THE number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in Devon dropped by 8%, or 568 claimants, between February and March.

The number of claimants now stands at 1.4% of Devon’s working age population, down from 1.6% in February and half the national rate.

Compared to March, 2013, Devon’s claimant count last month was 3,108 lower – a drop of 31.4% – and since last June the number of people claiming JSA in Devon has been at its lowest for five years and the rate is still dropping.