Unemployment in the Isle of Man fell in December for the first time for six years according to the latest statistics released by the Economic Affairs Division of Treasury.

2009 closed with 878 people registered as unemployed.  This represents 2.1% of the economically active population.  During the month 187 claimants signed off the register and 180 signed on, a net fall of 7.

Of the 878 unemployed 630 are males and 248 females.  The Construction Industry accounted for 241 claimants, Hospitality accounted for 103 and Retailing accounted for 106.  Banking, Insurance, Accounting and Finance only accounted for 53 workers.

During December the Job Centre were notified of 218 new vacancies by Island employers of which 84 remaind vacant at the end of the month.

Since 2005 through to September 2008 unemployment remaind steady at around 600 persons.  It rose to its current level of 800 to 900 between September and December 2008, coinciding with the banking crisis.