UNEMPLOYMENT in Dartford fell faster than anywhere else in the county in the last year.
The number of people claiming Job Seekers' Allowance has dropped from 2035 to 1790 since September 2011; a reduction of 245 claimants.
The fall of 12 per cent is the steepest among the 17 Parliamentary constituencies in Kent, giving Dartford the seventh lowest number of claimants in the county.
Dartford MP Gareth Johnson welcomed the news.
He said: "These figures are very welcome and demonstrate that confidence in Dartford is increasing.
"With the proposed expansion of Bluewater, new houses being built in the Eastern Quarry and the recent proposal to build a theme park in Swanscombe, there is clear evidence of opportunities in Dartford for people seeking employment.
"Local initiatives such as the Portas Town grant, more business apprenticeship places and low corporation tax rates have helped to bring about increasing investment in the area.
"I can only hope that these encouraging figures continue to help Dartford out of what has been a long and painful recession."
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