THE city jobs market is as buoyant as ever with around 100 vacancies up for grabs.

That is the positive message from Steve Benwell, relationship manager at the Department for Work and Pensions based in Hove.

It comes as new figures show unemployment in the city has fallen to 2895, a fall of five per cent from the same time last year.

Youth unemployment in Brighton and Hove - which fell below the south-east average rate earlier in the year - continues to fall with 515 young people aged 18-24 on the claimant count.

Among the main organisations recruiting at the moment are:

- Dixon Carphones

- Laing O’Rourke

- NHS

- and Hotel Indigo.

Mr Benwell said: “These are another set of really encouraging figures that demonstrate the determination among both public and private sector organisations to help support local unemployed people back into work.

“The future also looks bright as the local labour market continues to be buoyant with the percentage of vacant stores in the city centre at 6.31 per cent, well below the national average of 12 per cent.

“We will be showcasing the range of jobs available across the city with a jobsfair at Brighton Jobcentre on August 2, where the likes of the new Hotel Indigo will be recruiting alongside the NHS, Dixon Carphone and Laing O’Rourke and many more.

“This will be a great opportunity for local people to discover which employers are recruiting and what the key sectors of growth in the city are.

“There will also be independent advice on hand for people who perhaps need a bit of guidance in terms of deciding upon a career or retraining.”

In the south-east employment rose to a new record high with 4.57 million people now in work.

The unemployment rate is the lowest in the country, at 3.4 per cent, well below the national rate of 4.5 per cent.

There are just over 32 million people in work - 324,000 more than the same time a year ago.

The national employment rate is now 74.9 per cent, the highest since comparable records began back in 1971.

The south-east employment rate, at 78.9 per cent, is the second highest in the country, only behind the south-west at 79.2 per cent.

Unemployment has fallen again with 152,000 fewer unemployed claimants than a year ago.

The unemployment rate nationally is 4.5 per cent, a 43 year low, and down from 4.9 per cent for a year earlier.

Damian Hinds, Minister for Employment, said: “These latest statistics are another reminder that our strong economy is giving record numbers of people the chance to find and stay in work.

“Unemployment is low, employment is high and there are over three quarters of a million vacancies.”