Live Register sees fall in unemployment figures

There were 2,900 fewer people signing on last month, on a seasonally adjusted basis.

When last year's August figures are compared to August 2014, there are 35,500 less people on the Live Register this year - that is a reduction of 8.5%.

There was also a decrease in the number of long-term claimants - with 9,210 fewer people on the dole for more than a year in the 12 months to August.

However, that still leaves 187,598 people on the Live Register for a year or more.