The manager of Crawley’s Job Centre has welcomed an “absolutely brilliant” fall in the people claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance.
The unemployment figure has fallen from a high of 2,783 in 2010 to 1,085, according to government statistics.
Sophia Sami, 46, of Southgate, manager of the town’s Job Centre Plus (JCP) for eight years, said the total fell steadily and added: “It’s extremely important to people.
“Financially they are in work but also it’s that confidence [they get].
“It’s really satisfying to see that.”
The number of people claiming at the JCP in the town centre fell by around a third from last September.
The number for those aged 18-24 fell by 43 per cent from 315 to 180.
The figures reflected the national economy and the town’s “buoyant” labour market in Crawley and neighbouring towns.
Sophia said her JCP was on course to have “fantastic figures” in the future.
She said: “Where we are at the moment is, jobs are out there if you’re in a buoyant labour market - it is to find them.
“I’m confident that the staff here have the skills to support people into work and if we were to continue doing we should have fantastic figures.”
Crawley benefitted from the number of employers in Gatwick Airport and Manor Royal industrial estate and a large number of retailers in the surrounding area.
The JCP worked “very closely” with employers by offering specific skills-training to claimants through its staff, agencies and Central Sussex College Crawley.
Sophia said: “Some people move into work very quickly but those who are making new claims and have been unemployed for a long time - we give them more support.”
Older claimants typically needed to be trained on how to use computers to find work.
She said: “Online is how companies are advertising jobs, we want to help our people to be confident to apply and search for jobs online.”
The JCP was due to have free WiFi access by the end of the month.
Crawley MP Henry Smith welcomed the fall in youth unemployment and added: “I am personally committed to reducing unemployment in our town, which is why I have organised Crawley Jobs Fairs in each of the last two years.”
Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Crawley, Chris Oxlade said statistics showed Crawley people getting poorer during the economic recovery.
He said the number of economically inactive people had risen and added: “Average earnings in August rose by just 0.7 per cent, less than half the rate of inflation.”