THERE are 330 more unemployed people in Bolton compared to this time last year.

New job figures released yesterday show that there were 5,680 people claiming out of work benefits across the borough in July, a significant rise from 2016.

However, officials say that there is no cause for concern — and blamed the rise on an increasing number of working age people coming to Bolton.

Linda Bailey, of Bolton Jobcentre Plus, said: “I would not read to much into it. What you have to remember is that the pool of working age people is not static.

“I’m pretty sure there are more working age people in Bolton now compared to a year ago.

“This increase of 330 is not something I would draw any conclusions from — there have not been any significant redundancies to suggest that there is something going wrong.

“What we are seeing at the moment is that there has been quite a lot of activity in terms of new jobs being created.”

She added that recruitment across Bolton had been ‘really positive’ this summer, highlighting the 100-plus people employed by the Greene King pub at Logistics North due to open this month.

A jobs and skills fair is being held at Bolton College on Thursday, September 28.

Around 70 employers — offering approximately 3,000 job opportunities between them — are expected to be at the event. The jobs fair will run from 10am to 3pm at the college’s Deane Road campus.

For more information, visit findyourfuture2017.co.uk