The number of people in Oxfordshire out of work and claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance climbed to 6,906 — or 1.7 per cent — in January, the highest figure since May 1997 when the Labour Government came to power.
The jump of 1,104 people since the previous month is the biggest increase in a single month since March 1991, when the number leapt from 10,919 to 12,124.
The January 2009 figure means there are now almost double the number of claimants in the county since the same month a year ago when the number stood at 3,546 — or 3,360 fewer than now.
The highest rate of unemployment is in Oxford and Cherwell.
In both districts two per cent of the working population is now claiming benefit.
The lowest rate is west Oxfordshire at 1.3 per cent.
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