Figures published on Wednesday show that 1,150 people in Pembrokeshire were claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in January - the lowest ever January figure for the county This equates to an unemployment rate of 1.7 per cent, significantly below the Welsh average of 2.3 per cent. The figures, published by the National Statistical Office, have been welcomed by the deputy leader of Pembrokeshire County Council. Clr. John Allen-Mirehouse, who is also cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, said: "Traditionally unemployment in Pembrokeshire has been very seasonal with encouraging summer lows offset by disappointing winter highs. "Over the past few years the differences between summer and winter have been less marked and this January's figure illustrates this to good effect. Eighteen moths ago, in the summer of 2006, there were more people claiming benefit than there are today. "Lately, we are hearing more about levels of economic inactivity and I'm happy to see that as well as having one of the lowest rates of unemployment in Wales, Pembrokeshire also has one of the lowest rates of economic inactivity. "The converse is also true. Pembrokeshire now has 75.7 per cent of the population of working age in employment. This is the fifth highest rate of employment in Wales and a level that is higher than the Welsh (71.1per cent) and UK (74.2 per cent) averages. "The county council has worked hard to attract new employment into the county, we are now turning our attention firmly on the quality of the jobs on offer in an effort to see the average wage rate increase to the Welsh average."