BUSINESS leaders are cautiously upbeat about new Government figures showing only a minimal increase in the number of people in Oxfordshire signing on the dole.

The number of people out of work and claiming benefit in the county increased by just four in May to 9,637, it was revealed yesterday.

In all the county’s council districts, except Oxford, the number of claimants fell slightly.

Ian Nicholson, of the Oxfordshire Towns Chambers Networks, said: “There have been encouraging signs lately, even from some of the most hard-pressed sectors.

“There’s a clear determination to build on that, because these figures show there are still people with experience and talent looking for work, who we want to see back in the economy as quickly as possible.”

He added: “There’s no doubt things have been tough but these figures are testament to the hard work being done by people at all levels of business in Oxfordshire to face up to the challenge.”

The county’s unemployment figure jumped earlier this year with the closure of Woolworth’s stores and the laying-off of 850 agency workers at the BMW Mini car factory in Cowley.

However, last month Mini announced it was taking about 250 workers back, with new shifts starting on Saturdays and some Sundays.

This week the Confederation of British Industry said the economy was stablising but it was not predicting growth until early next year.

David Robertson, the deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council, who is responsible for economy, tourism and skills, said: “Of course any job loss is 100 per cent bad for the person concerned, but these figures are less bad than many pundits feared.”

In Oxford, the Jobseeker’s Allowance claimant count increased from 2,914 to 2,974.

But in Cherwell the figure fell from 2,474 to 2,463; in South Oxfordshire from 1,654 to 1,646; in the Vale of the White Horse from 1,458 to 1,433l; and in West Oxfordshire from 1,133 to 1,121.

However, Mr Robertson warned: “It would be a mistake to read too much into a single month’s figures – and it’s certainly too early to greet this as a trend. Indeed, we’re bracing ourselves for bad news when cuts in public spending kick in.

“We fear there will be job losses in the public sector when the Government begins to pay back money it borrowed in order to deal with the credit crunch. Just like with household finances, you need to tighten your belt when you have to pay back money.”

Nationally, there were 1,564,978 people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in May, up from 1,557,616 the previous month.

In the South East of England, including Oxfordshire, the figure increased from 153,608 to 154,868.

Among signs of better prospects for the county's economy are recent announcements of:

  • 100 new jobs are to be created at Wirth Research, in Bicester, after associate company Manor F1 won the right to run a team in the 2010 Formula 1 motor racing season.
  • Airtanker at RAF Brize Norton plans to take on another 300 workers to support its contract to provide new Airbus A330-200 air-to-air refuelling tanker aircraft.
  • Sainsbury’s could take on up to 300 employees at a proposed supermarket in Carterton.
  • 5,000 jobs are set be created by the expansion of the new Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in south Oxfordshire.