Department of Employment figures show that 1018 people were unemployed in September 2016.

That’s 486 fewer than September 2015, with the unemployment rate dropping from 7 per cent to 4.5 per cent.

There was also an increase of 1047 people in the Orange labour force to 22,742 workers.

However, Orange’s unemployment rate is higher than both Bathurst (4 per cent) and Blayney (4.1 per cent), which both also had growth.

Orange Business Chamber president Mark Madigan said the drop in unemployment was due to an increase in business confidence.

“There has been no main standout,” he said.

“It’s generally across the board, which is a reflection on business confidence.”

Orange City Council’s Employment and Economic Development chair Councillorr Jeff Whitton said the growth had occurred despite significant job losses at the Electrolux factory and at the Cadia mine.

“This is fantastic news coming on the back of what has been a couple of tough years,” he said.

“If less people are out of work and more people are optimistic enough about the local economic outlook to be back in the labour force, that says good things about the health of the local economy.”

Health care and social assistance is the largest employment sector in Orange.

“Our new hospital continues to attract more specialists. The aged care sector is growing,” Cr Whitton said.

“We’re losing Myer, but we’re gaining a major revamp of retail buildings.

“This gives hope to staff at Myer who are facing redundancy.”

Mayor John Davis said the unemployment rate still needed to be reduced.

“The need for more industrial land points to the council’s plans to build more capacity for the future,” Cr Davis said.

It is the lowest rate since March 2012 (4.2 per cent).