THE Vale of White Horse district – which includes Abingdon and Wantage – has seen the greatest leap in people claiming jobseekers’ allowance in the UK.

But traders and civic leaders are shrugging off the statistics, saying they have to be looked at in the context of the area’s historically low unemployment.

The Government’s Office for National Statistics said the figure soared by almost 150 per cent in the Vale between January 2008 and January this year.

The area has been hit by job losses in the last few months, including 50 at Sonas Automotive, in East Challow, which went into administration, and the closure of Woolworths branches.

During the 12-month period, the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in the Vale jumped from 416 to 1,029.

In Abingdon and the surrounding areas it rose from 238 to 573. In Wantage it increased from 178 to 456.

Meanwhile, in the South Oxfordshire district the figure was not much better, with an increase of 117 per cent over the year.

David Buckle, chief executive of both the Vale and South Oxfordshire district councils, said: “Unemployment rates are still among the lowest in the country and both councils are looking at ways they can work with businesses to maintain these low levels.

“Fortunately, there are new jobs being created across both districts, so there are still plenty of opportunities for work in southern Oxfordshire which the job claimant figures do not reflect.”

Nationally, the total number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in 2008 was 795,000. It rose to 1,233,000 in January 2009.

Wantage mayor Patrick O’Leary, who runs the town’s Dolphin Gallery, said: “This percentage increase is based on a historically low unemployment area and it’s not necessarily reflective of the area as a whole which still seems quite buoyant. It has to be taken in context.”

His comments were reflected in the total number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance as a percentage of the Vale’s total population. In January 2008 it was 0.6 per cent and in January 2009, 1.5 per cent.

Jim Hetherington, chairman of Wantage Chamber of Commerce, said the town historically had good employment.

He added: “If there is going to be an increase across the board we are going to feel it the most. Starting off from a lower figure means that any increase is going to show up more.”

Wendy Watson, of Wantage’s Independent Advice Centre, said: “People in Wantage, Grove and the surrounding areas don’t have a job centre. We can help with advice, support and making sure people are claiming what they entitled to.”

People mostly affected by credit crunch have been those in the engineering and manufacturing industries.

In January, 40 of a 300-workforce at engineering firm Macdermid Autotype, in Grove Road, were made redundant.

The high-tech company blamed a downturn in the consumer electronics industry in the Far East.

Software giant Sophos cut 30 of the 600 jobs at its Abingdon Science Park HQ, and betting firm Stan James has closed its call centre at Grove Technology Park.

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