SWINDON’S Jobcentre is seeking elves to fill a number of job vacancies as employers start thinking about Christmas.

The unusual job advert comes as the latest figures show that more people in Swindon are in work compared to the same period years ago, the latest figures show.

There are currently 2,880 people in Swindon claiming job seekers allowance, which is a 39SWINDON’S Jobcentre is seeking hardworking elves to fill a number of job vacancies as employers start thinking about Christmas.

The unusual job advert comes as the latest figures show that more people in Swindon are in work compared to the same period years ago.

There are currently 2,880 people in Swindon claiming Job Seekers Allowance, which is a 39 per cent decrease on the same period in 2012 when there were 1,815 more people seeking employment. The figures also mark an improvement on the same period in 2010 when there were 1,1797 more people out of work.

The figures show that there are 1,025 more people claiming job-related benefits this year than last year, but Jobcentre bosses say this is down to the introduction of Universal Credit which has skewed the figures.

Of those currently seeking work are 595 18 to 24-year-olds, 660 fewer than there were in 2010 and 815 fewer than five years ago.

Jobcentre team leader Julie Marshall said that the labour market was starting to get busy once again with many people turning their attention towards Christmas.

“We are starting to get quite busy now because summer is now suddenly over and people are thinking about Christmas,” she said. “Amazingly we are advertising for elves.”

Great Grottos are currently advertising vacancies at the Jobcentre for elves to assist Santa in his Christmas duties across Swindon.

Royal Mail is also seeking helpers to assist Santa with the annual influx of Christmas cards, with 559 vacancies being advertised.

Toy shop The Entertainer is also seeking staff to help with the host of new toys expected this Christmas, while John Lewis and Argos are also on the look-out for seasonal staff.

The number of new job vacancies comes as the country marks a record high employment rate.

The Minister For Employment, Damian Hinds, said: “The strength of the economy is helping people of all ages find work, from someone starting their first job to those who might be starting a new career later in life.

“There’s good news in the south west where at 77.8 per cent the employment rate is up on the year and higher than the national rate of 75.3 per cent.

“There are a record 1.3m women in work, and the employment rate for women is 74.2 per cent, higher than the national figure.

“We will continue to build on our achievements through employment programmes and Jobcentre Plus.”