Whilst it was announced yesterday that the national unemployment figures have fallen for the fourth month in a row, long-term unemployment has increased, with those who’ve been looking for work for over two years increasing by 18,000 to 441,000, the biggest number since 1997.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics take into account the situation a few weeks ago – at the end of June 2012.

However while those people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance went up by 6,100 in June to 1.6 million, the highest figure nationally for 17 years, the picture in Norfolk is a contrasting and far healthier one.

The total claimants in Norfolk, Waveney and Fenland fell almost ten percent in the last quarter to 22,402. However, it must be noted that the year on year figures from June 2011 to June 2012 increased by over 5 percent.