The number of unemployed people in the Esher and Walton constituency is among the lowest in the UK, despite a huge increase in the past five years, statistics have revealed.

In December 2012, 921 people were unemployed and claiming jobseekers allowance (JSA) in Dominic Raab’s constituency, representing a rate of 1.7 per cent of the economically active population aged 16 to 64. 

Esher and Walton was among the 20 constituencies with the lowest rate of unemployment, out of 650 from across the UK.

The number of JSA claimants in December 2012 was 5.34 per cent lower than in December 2011, with 52 fewer unemployed, and 3.26 per cent lower than November 2012, with 31 fewer claimants. 

Mr Raab, MP for Esher and Walton, said: “The economy is still going through tough times, but it is good news that we are seeing falling unemployment locally.

“It is a sign of growing business confidence that companies are hiring, and welcome to those who are trying to get back into work. It is critical to build on this.”

Despite the drop, the number of people claiming JSA has increased by 160.9 per cent, from 353 people, since December 2007.

Runnymede and Weybridge constituency has had a similar increase, with a 149.6 per cent rise in the number of people claiming JSA, at 931 people in December 2012, up from 373 in December 2007.

The number of people nationally claiming JSA decreased by 12,100 between November and December 2012 to 1.56m people aged 18 or over.

The national unemployment rate from September to November was 7.7 per cent, 2.49m people, down 37,000 from the previous quarter and 185,000 fewer than the previous year.

In December 2012, 1.3 per cent of the population of Elmbridge were claiming JSA, with more males than females claiming.