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

Statistics released by the government today show that there were 440 people registered unemployed at the end of May, compared with 663 a year earlier.

The island’s unemployment rate is now 1 per cent. The rate is the proportion of the economically active population registered as unemployed.

During the month 133 signed on but 155 signed off.

A total of 1,039 vacancies were notified to the Job Centre during the month, of which 594 remained. Of those 428 for full-time positions.

Using the International Labour Organisation estimate of unemployment, 885 people were unemployed and looking for work in May 2017. That represents a 2.1 per cent unemployment rate.

The figures show a mismatch between jobs available and people qualified to do them.

There are 59 vacancies in the health industry and 65 in e-gaming, while there are 23 unskilled people with a background in construction looking for work.