THE number of people out of work and claiming unemployment benefit in South Lakeland rose slightly last month. Figures from the Cumbria Economic Intelligence Partnership show that a total of 722, or 1.2 per cent of the working-age population, are out of work and claiming in South Lakeland that represents an increase of 0.2 per cent. In Cumbria as a whole, the number rose by 913 to 7,268 or 2.5 per cent of the working-age population. The national average is 2.7 per cent.

February 18, 2003 12:00