The number of people out of work in the Isle of Man has dropped.

September’s figure is down five - at 331 - from August’s. It’s seven down from September 2017.

The unemployment rate is 0.8%. That figure represents the proportion of the economically active population registered as uemployed.

But, using the International Labour Organisation’s methodology, it’s 1.8% - or 776 people without work. In the UK the rate is 4%.

The sectors with the most number of vacancies are catering and entertainment, where there were 120 unfilled jobs when the statistics were compiled, health services where there were 56 vacancies and retail distribution where there were 57.

The statistics point to an issue raised at Isle of Man Newspapers’ recent topical talks, when business leaders said how difficult it was to recruit workers in the Isle of Man during a time of low unemployment.

A four-page report on the discussion will appear in tomorrow’s Isle of Man Examiner.