Unemployment rates have dropped significantly across west London and the rest of the UK according to the latest figures .

Statistics recorded by the Jobcentre over the last year, from June 2013 to last month (June), show the number of benefit claimants has gone down by about a quarter in many west London boroughs.

The figures, released this morning (July 16), reveal a 27 per cent reduction in the total number of benefit claimants in Ealing and a 37 per cent reduction for 18-24 year olds.

In Hammersmith and Fulham there has been a 26 per cent reduction in the total number of claimants and 38 per cent for youths.

Kensington and Chelsea came out with a 25 per cent reduction for the total number of claimants and a 21 per cent reduction for youths.

Westminster has 25 per cent less benefit claimants altogether with a 29 per cent reduction for 18-24s.

The figures for Hounslow show a 26 per cent fall in those claiming Jobseekers allowance and 31 per cent in 18-24 year old claimants.

Sarah Bishop, Jobs Centre Manager in Hounslow, said: “We are delighted with the figures and movement into employment.

“The measures we are taking seem to be having an impact and we are working closely with the councils.”

Ms Bishop said factors which have helped include the Westfield expansion and their work to get apprenticeships going.

Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith , said: “It’s good news that employment is coming down but long overdue and I still have two concerns.

“One is that some of this is massaging figures by introducing sanctions on people’s benefits, or because of benefit caps or the massive rise in renting levels causing families who can’t afford to live in London to move out of the area.

“The second thing is that we would like to see more local people employed who have long been unemployed.”

National Labour Market Statistics (LMS) which have just been released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), show nearly a million more people are in work compared to a year ago in the UK.

There are now 30.6 million people in work nationally, 1.8 million more than in 2010.