The number of people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance in Waltham Forest has fallen, new figures show.

In the last year the number of claimants fell by 508 in Leyton & Wanstead, 441 in Walthamstow and 264 in Chingford & Woodford Green.

The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday, come in the same week Waltham Forest Council announced it had signed an agreement aimed at further reducing unemployment.

But Conservatives say the scheme targets “low end” jobs and may result in a "poverty of aspiration".

Earlier this month a deal was struck between the council, Jobcentre Plus and the Department of Work and Pensions which aims to match out of work residents with jobs and relevant training.

Councillor Mark Rusling, cabinet member for corporate resources and economic development, said the scheme will link employers and job seekers in order to ensure people have the best chance of securing local jobs.

“Recently we have helped match residents to jobs with Balfour Beatty, Bouygues and Osborne, addressing training requirements through our Adult Learning Service as well as working with the likes of Waltham Forest College to ensure candidates have the relevant skills and qualifications,” he said.

Conservative group leader Matt Davis acknowledged that the scheme is a step in the right direction, but raised questions over the quality of jobs available to participants.

"We are pleased to see the council, at last, putting in place meaningful schemes to get our residents into long term full time employment and congratulate all those now working or starting a business as a result,” he said.

“However most of the jobs so far are at the lower end of the employment ladder and we are concerned that there could be a poverty of aspiration in terms of the jobs we train people for and broker for them. Otherwise though this is a good start, let's hope that it continues and grows."

According to the londonspovertyprofile.org website, Waltham Forest had the seventh highest rate of unemployment in London between 2010 and 2012 at 8.17 per cent.

London’s average unemployment rate for the same period was 6.81 per cent.