Unemployment has fallen in Cumbria for the second month running, provisional figures show.

There were 5,390 job hunters claiming Jobseeker's Allowance or Universal Credit last month, 1.8 per cent of the workforce, down from a restated figure of 5,490 in May.

The claimant count fell in five of the county's six districts.

Barrow saw the the biggest drop, where the figure fell by 40 to 1,105 (2.7 per cent).

This was followed by Copeland with a drop of 30 to 1,175 (2.7 per cent) and then Carlisle with a fall of 30 to 1,000 (1.5 per cent), South Lakeland where it fell by 10 to 355 (0.6 per cent) and then Eden where it dropped by five to 230 (0.7 per cent).

In Allerdale there was no change and the figure stayed at 1,525 (2.6 per cent).

Shane Byrne, employer partnership manager for Cumbria with Jobcentre Plus, said: "It is the time of year, we always see an increase in recruitment. This is now going to lead us to Christmas recruitment"

He also said there were sectors of the Cumbrian economy which had skills gaps, including care. Mr Byrne added that he wanted to help more people with disabilities get into work.

"The Jobcentre is always happy to help anyone into work with a disability," he said.

He urged anyone considering employing a disabled person - anywhere in Cumbria - to contact Carlisle Jobcentre for help on 01228 695002.

Nationally employment has reached a record high.

The number of people in work climbed to around 32m, a rise of 324,000 compared to last year and the largest total since records began in 1971.

The employment rate rose by 0.3 per cent on the quarter to a record high of 74.9 per cent.

Unemployment fell by 64,000 to 1.49m in the three months to May, the lowest level since 2005.

The unemployment rate also dropped by 0.2 per cent on the quarter to 4.5 per cent.

Minister for Employment, Damian Hinds, said: “These latest statistics are another reminder that our strong economy is giving record numbers of people the chance to find and stay in work.

"It’s good news in the north west where the number of people in work is at a record high of 3.45m. At 74 per cent the employment rate is at a joint record high, while at 4.3 per cent the unemployment rate in the north west is lower than the national rate of 4.5 per cent.

“We’re committed to delivering a welfare system which transforms lives and offers help to those who need it most, whatever their background or wherever they are from.”