Unemployment is down across the majority of south Essex this month due to “the strength of the economy”.

Paul Thompson, leader of the Southend seafront traders association, believes that the figures are not due to people getting jobs just over the Christmas season - and hopes that employment will continue to rise.

He said: “The South East is having a surge with the new Amazon warehouse that has opened in Tilbury especially.

“I think we are seeing an increase in employment.”

He felt that despite the unsure feeling about the economy in the last year because of Brexit, work will start to become more available.

He said: “I think hopefully the economy can maintain a steady growth now. All the Brexit doom and gloom stories haven’t seemed to happen so far so I think it will continue to improve.”

For the month of October, Castle Point are leading the way unemployment down by 5.12 per cent to 555 claimants while Basildon is not far behind with four per cent less claimants than the month before at 1,895.

Damian Hinds, minister for employment, said: “The strength of the economy is driving an increase in full-time, permanent jobs and a near-record number of people are now in work thanks to the Government’s welfare reforms.

“When unemployment fell to five per cent early last year, many people thought it couldn’t get much lower, and yet it now stands at 4.3 per cent.

“Everyone should be given the opportunity to find work and enjoy the stability of a regular pay packet.

“We’ve cut income tax for 30 million people since 2010, meaning people keep more of their money each month.”

Rochford claimant figures have remained the same at 440. Southend has reduced their figure by 1.3 per cent and stood at 2,330 in October. Unemployment in Essex as a whole is down one per cent.