Unemployment figures in Enfield are at their lowest in five years, it has been revealed.

The number of people claiming job seekers allowance has dropped to 4,325, a 23 per cent drop and 1,275 less people claiming.

According to the department for work and pensions, the amount of 18 to 24-years-olds claiming is 785, down 35 per cent from December 2014.

Nick Steward, from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), told the Enfield Independent: “It’s still 4,325 too many but we are happy with the progress that is being made.

“We have been working immensely closely with local authority, colleges and enterprise groups to collaborate and get the supply of jobs going and make more local recruitment solutions.”

Enfield North constituency has seen a fall in 32 per cent of young people claiming with a 41 per cent in Edmonton and a 21 per cent drop in Southgate.

Mr Steward added: “The three job centres in Enfield have been working as one as we try to maximise the jobs across the borough.”

The borough is slightly below the employment rate in London at 72.7 per cent, however Mr Steward is happy with the growth in Enfield.

He said: “Five years ago we had almost 10,000 people claiming job seekers allowance in Enfield so that’s a real improvement.

“Even in areas perceived to be more disadvantaged such as Edmonton we have seen real improvements.”

Mr Steward now believes the DWP will target the older generation as well as targeting other sectors such as culture.

He said: “We will be targeting the growing sectors in the economy such as the creative sector.

"It crucial to work out how do we demystify these sectors and get people into there.

“Claimants who are maybe older will be targeted. Reskilling them and using their transferrable skills to find new jobs.”

Nationally there is a 74 per cent employment rate, the highest on record as well as 69 per cent of women being employed, a new high.