NEMPLOYMENT figures suggest that Warrington is enjoying the lowest rates for 20 years, according to the latest Labour Market Review, issued by the council.

The figure in April was 2.7 per cent, a fall of 0.3 per cent on the previous year.

Nine wards in the town had unemployment rates above the borough average, with the highest being in Bewsey (8.7 per cent), Westy (6.6 per cent) and Howley (6.5 per cent).

Eleven wards had an unemployment rate of two per cent or below, with Heatley having the lowest (1.1 per cent) followed by Lymm (1.2 per cent).

Fewer than 500 people in the borough were in the long-term unemployed group.

The review states that in the first quarter of the year, business surveys reported weakening confidence among manufacturing firms, but continuing growth in the service sector.

An increase in enquiries for office and warehouse premises from firms in Cheshire is also reported.

A survey in the Latchford and Westy areas showed that almost 40 per cent of employers expected to increase staff numbers in the next 12 months. These employment opportunities are expected to benefit local residents, since almost half of the organisations surveyed said they employed mainly people from the Warrington area.

The review says that in all the skills surveys of employers which have been carried out in Warrington, organisational skills, including commercial awareness and generic skills, such as written and verbal communcation, plus attitudes, were seen as the most important for future recruits.

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