THE number of young people out of work in Waverley has dropped by almost 30 per cent in the last 12 months.

The number of young people aged 18 to 24 years claiming unemployment benefits (Jobseekers Allowance and Universal Credit unemployment payments) dropped to 40 between December 2016 and January 2017- down 27 per cent on the same period 12 months earlier.

Unemployment benefit claims rose slightly in the last month of 2016 to the end of January. A spokesman for Aldershot Job Centre said: “For all age groups the number of claimants rose slightly (four per cent) over the same period to 310.

“We believe this is because many people took temping jobs in retail and warehouses over the Christmas period, and now their contracts have come to an end.

“The transition to Universal Credit is going quite well, and we expect to rollout a full service by this July - replacing individual benefits such as working tax credits and Jobseekers Allowance.”