UNEMPLOYMENT in Oxfordshire is now at its highest level since before the Labour Government came to power.

Latest figures for March show 9,174 people claiming Jobseekers Allowance, a rise of 730 or 8.6 per cent on the previous month and the highest since October 1996.

There are now 5,400 more people signing on the dole in the county than a year ago, with the jobless figure having more than doubled since then.

In Oxford, the figure rose by 10.3 per cent to 2,812, swelled by the 850 agency workers who lost their jobs at the Cowley Mini plant.

Business leaders admitted times are tough but continue to remain resilient in the face of the recession.

Graham Jones, spokesman for the Oxford High Street Business Association, said: “We saw a few shop closures, particularly after Christmas but that has slowed down. There will be worse to come and businesses are having to slim down but it is not catastrophic. It is just a case of everyone having to tighten their belts.”

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said major efforts were being made to try and reduce the impact of growing unemployment on the city’s economy, although he admitted costs were having to be cut. He added: “We are well aware of the global recession and are working with partners in the county council and with JobcentrePlus to help businesses and individuals with their benefits and with mortgage rescue.”

Oxford Trades Union Council is staging a jobs rally on May 2 in Oxford to protest at the growing number of redundancies in the county over the last year.

Speakers will include representatives from the Unite car workers union based at the Mini plant, the Communication Workers Union representing Royal Mail, which will see the closure of the main Cowley sorting office in June with the loss of more than 450 jobs and the health union Unison.