JOB losses among major employers such as Ducal and Rohill Bodies have failed to dent the success of Andover and its surrounding area - at least in terms of employment.
The percentage of the population unemployed and claiming jobseeker's allowance in the North West Hampshire constituency is only 0.7 per cent.
The Labour market statistics show that of the south east's 82 parliamentary seats only the well heeled constituencies of Witney, Buckingham and Mole Valley have lower claimant rates.
The encouraging thing for the constituency is that claimant rates have fallen faster than in those constituencies - opening up the possibility that the North West Hampshire area could soon regain the crown of having the lowest unemployment rate in the country if trends continue.
Since August 2003 the number of claimants in North-West Hants has fallen by 163 to just 450.
Claimant numbers in Witney, Buckingham and Mole Valley are down by eight, 46 and 100 respectively.
The Romsey constituency, which takes in Test Valley, south of Andover, also has a 0.7 per cent claimant rate although the fall there has been less pronounced than in North West Hampshire over the past year.
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