A new way of calculating the unemployment rate in the county has been used for the first time - amidst fears the method would show a rise in numbers.

Under Universal Credit, a broader span of claimants are included in the count than under Jobseeker's Allowance.

But despite the trepidation those who made the calculations might have felt, the total county reveals less than 5,000 people out of work in Gloucestershire.

In all towns the claimant count is below 1,000 and in the county's capital city the numbers stack up at 1,385.

In Cheltenham there were 980 claimants, in Stroud 765, in the Forest of Dean 835, Cotswolds 460 and Tewkesbury 555.

Nevertheless, Jobcentre Plus remains determined to make it as easy as possible for those looking for staff and those seeking work to meet with a series of jobs fairs.

"Gloucestershire's labour market remains buoyant and there are numerous job opportunities coming up: A new Premier Inn and Beefeater will be coming to the Gloucester Quays area and Jobcentre Plus and it's partners will be organising specific training and work experience for claimants, called sector based work academies, who would like to work in this sector," said Mike Nichols, of Jobcentre Plus.

"Everyone is eagerly anticipating the opening of the new John Lewis store in Cheltenham later this year. Once again, Jobcentre Plus is organising sector-based work academies for claimants."

Jobs fairs are due to take place on Wednesday, June 20, at Stroud Library (2pm to 4pm), in Gloucester Guildhall on June 27 (10am to 1pm), and Cheltenham Town Hall on July 18 (10am to 1pm).

A recruitment day for the care sector, for four different homes in the Stroud District, is also due to take place on June 28 at Stroud Jobcentre.

Jobcentre Plus in Coleford is now sited within the town's council offices. An official opening is due on June 20.

In the South West as a whole, the number of people employed is now at a new record high of 2.79 million with a new record high employment rate of 79.4 per cent - well above the national average of 75.6 per cent.

The South West also has the highest employment rate in the country and the highest female employment rate in the country.

This is a record high for the South West (at 76.2 per cent)

Unemployment in the South West has fallen by 62,000 since 2010 (currently at 96,000).

The South West's unemployment rate is well below the UK average (3.3 per cent vs 4.2 per cent).

The inactivity rate in the South West is the lowest in the country (17.8 per cent) - well below the UK average of 21 per cent.