County's jobless rises by a third

Nationally, unemployment is at an 11-year high

The number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Oxfordshire has risen by 33% over the past year, it has emerged.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics suggest 1.1% of the county's work-age population, 4,563 people, were jobless and on benefit in October.

This is up from 4,423 in September. In October 2007, 3,417 people claimed benefit, 1,146 fewer than October 2008.

Nationally, unemployment is at an 11-year high.

Oxford had the highest rate of unemployment in Oxfordshire - in October it was at 1.5% or 1,634 people.

The Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire had the lowest levels of unemployment - both at 0.8%.

Nationally, the jobless total is at its highest level since Labour came to power in 1997 - at more than 1.8 million.

But Prime Minister Gordon Brown told MPs that in that time, 3,000,000 new jobs had been created.

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