THE government has insisted Britain is enjoying the strongest jobs market on record, despite a rise in joblessness across Dorset.

The number of benefit claimants looking for work rose across the county by between three per cent and 18 per cent year-on-year.

But Department for Work and Pensions officials say fluctuations are expected and claimants have fallen drastically over five years.

Meanwhile, trade union GMB has pointed to a 17 per cent quarterly rise in unemployment in the south west, which it said was “horrific”.

New figures seek to compare the number of unemployed people claiming the new universal credit with those claiming the equivalent benefits previously.

Bournemouth had 3,523 claimants as of November 2018, up nine per cent on the previous year but down 31 per cent over five years.

In Poole, the claimant count was 1,833, up 10 per cent, but down 31 per cent over five years.

David McArthur, employer and partnership manager for the Department for Work and Pensions, said the claimant count “naturally fluctuates over time”.

He added: “The great news is that compared to five years ago, the claimant count is currently between 15 per cent and 36 per cent lower across Dorset for all age groups and between 26 per cent and 50 per cent lower for young people. The news is even better across the New Forest as compared to five years ago, the claimant count is currently 40 per cent lower across all age groups and 59 per cent lower for young people.”

Employment minister Alok Sharma said the UK had a record employment rate, adding: “There are 328,000 more people in work over the past year, almost entirely driven by full-time jobs as the government delivers an economy that works for the British people.”

But GMB Union pointed to a 17 per cent quarterly rise in unemployment across the south west, which general secretary Tim Roache said was “horrific”.

He added: “Thousands of jobs lost mean thousands of people and families wondering how they’re going to pay the bills.It means thousands more at foodbanks.

“Carrying on with wrong-headed austerity policies, a lack of government investment in jobs and our economy and a lack of any feasible plan on Brexit will only make the situation worse.”

Claimant figures for the rest of the county: Christchurch 480 (up four per cent year-on-year, down 31 per cent over five years); East Dorset 661 (up six per cent annually, down 28 per cent over five years); North Dorset 620 (up 18 per cent, down 20 per cent over five years); Purbeck 432 (up 16 per cent, down 29 per cent over five years); West Dorset 962 (up 15 per cent, down 15 per cent over five years); Weymouth and Portland 1,040 (up seven per cent, down 36 per cent over five years). The New Forest had 1,432 claimants, up three per cent, but down 40 per cent over five years.