THE outlook for job hunters in Cumbria is bright as parts of the county inch closer to full employment.

That is the view of Shane Byrne, Department for Work and Pensions spokesman for Cumbria, who was reacting to the latest unemployment figures.

The September statistics published last week showed a further fall in the number of job hunters claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and the new Universal Credit, which is being phased in to replace it.

There were 4,445 job hunters claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit, 1.5 per cent of the workforce, down from 4,565 in August.

Mr Byrne said: “There are parts of Cumbria now, to a degree Carlisle and particularly Eden and South Lakeland, where we have virtually full employment.

“We are working with employers in these areas who will give our most disadvantaged customers a chance, including ex-offenders.

"And we are talking to employers about Universal Credit and how it will impact on them.”

Universal Credit, which is paid monthly, is designed to replace Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Employment Support Allowance, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, and Housing Benefit.

Cumbria was one of the first areas to adopt it and JobCentres in the county have been moving new claimants onto Universal Credit since the end of 2014.

The Government argues it removes a disincentive to take part-time or temporary work.

Previously, claimants working more than 16 hours a week had to come off Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Under Universal Credit, they simply notify the change of circumstances and, if the work stops or the hours reduce, there is no need to make a new claim.

Mr Byrne believes the new system has made part-time and temporary work more attractive.

He added: “I couldn't be more positive about the labour market in Cumbria. It is really buoyant. The message is people need to be flexible and be prepared to travel.

“We have pockets in Cumbria where employers are really struggling to recruit people and Kendal is one of them. Lakeland [the kitchenware retailer] had between 40 and 50 vacancies for temporary Christmas workers, and Royal Mail and McDonald's are also recruiting.”