THE number of people on Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) in Waverley has dropped by 19 per cent over the last year, with retailers taking on staff ahead of the Christmas season.

Latest labour market figures show 373 people from the borough claimed the benefit this September, 88 people less than 12 months earlier.

Of these, there are 60 claimants in Waverley aged 18-24 compared to 70 a year before – a 14 per cent drop in that category.

Nationally, 20 per cent fewer people claimed JSA last September compared to the same month in 2014.

And the UK employment rate has risen to a new record high of 73.6 per cent, with the unemployment total falling below 1.8 million for the first time since 2008.