Unemployment fell again last month - but remains at a six and a half year high following a Covid-related peak in April.

The number out of work dropped by 33 in July. That is an increase of 766 on the same month last year.

Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan has warned that the jobless figure is likely to rise again later this year when a number of the government’s Covid support schemes come to an end.

The unemployment rate for July, the proportion of economically active population registered unemployed, was 2.6%.

During the month 682 job vacancies were notified to the Job Centre. At the end of the month, 443 remained. Of these, 61% (271) were full-time positions and 39% (172) were part-time.

International Labour Organisation estimates, which include those that are out of work but not registered unemployed, put July’s jobless figure at 2,145, down from 2,178 in June.

Sectors with the highest number of unemployed include construction and tourist accommodation.

Unemployment peaked at 1,347 in April following the Covid outbreak, the highest figure in more than 20 years.