Oxfordshire is one of only three counties in the south east of England to have less than one per cent unemployment.

Other counties in the region, including Berkshire, Hampshire and Hertfordshire, have unemployment levels of between one and two per cent. Surrey and Rutland are also under one per cent.

In some areas, such as Kent and East Sussex, the figure is between two and three per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The differences are significant in showing how the South East, along with the rest of Britain, is fragmented by local economies.

Unemployment figures for October, due to be released on November 13, reveal that areas of chronic joblessness are located next to those where unemployment is almost nil.

Each of the counties surrounding Oxfordshire have a significantly higher unemployment rate of one to two per cent -- the same figure as in some traditionally less prosperous areas of the north-east, such as Durham.

The Government aims to spread prosperity to lessen the north-south divide, but these figures show that the discrepancies are far-reaching throughout the whole of Britain.

Even within each county or city, there are major differences, making it difficult to pin-point which regions are most affected.

The research manager at Oxfordshire Learning and Skills Council, Martin Towers said: "There are big variations in each region and even in each local authority area, but these don't show up on these type of figures because they are worked out as an average.

"Oxfordshire does have a relatively low unemployment rate but that doesn't mean it is at less than one per cent throughout the county. There are still some areas of deprivation, particularly in the city."