9,000 drop in jobless numbers

THE number of people receiving unemployment benefit and assistance has fallen by nearly 9,000 in the last 12 months, it emerged yesterday.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) said that there were 168,509 people on the register last month compared to 177,501 in July last year.

The register includes those receiving unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance, which can cover part-time, seasonal and casual workers.