THE number of young people unemployed in Brighton and Hove has fallen below the average for the rest of the south east for the first time.

Figures released today show there are 3,045 jobless in the city - an increase of 105 on the same time last year.

That includes 600 aged 18-24.

The long-term trend is still very much downwards with the claimant count falling by 4,714 from 2010.

Steve Benwell, relationship manager for the department of work and pensions, said the market is generally buoyant.

He said: “The good news locally is that employment actually continues to rise as more people move into work and also more people start to look for work.

“We have at least one employer in the Job Centre every day looking to recruit.

“The construction area is very strong at the moment, and we have been working with Lewes Prison and the probation service in the public sector.

“Plus for the first time in a while the job centre will also be recruiting.”

Just 1.5 per cent of people in the 18-24 bracket now claim Jobseekers Allowance or universal credit compared with 1.6 per cent for the rest of the south east, and 2.8 per cent nationally.

Mr Benwell said: “The benefits of having a strong city-wide strategy are clearly paying off.

“Although there is still much more that can be done, it does demonstrate that the city’s focus on supporting young people to gain the skills they need to get back into work is beginning to pay dividends.

“All the key people are sitting around the table regularly.”