Kelly Tolhurst MP has welcomed yesterday’s figures showing that there are 321,000 more people in work across the South East and 2.7 million more people across the United Kingdom back in work than in 2010, meaning that more families across Rochester and Strood have the security of a regular pay packet.
In Rochester and Strood, the number of people claiming the key out of work benefits has fallen by 1,032 - a 46 per cent drop – since 2010. Constituency unemployment now stands at 2.2%, below the national average of 2.4%.
With the employment rate at a record high, the female employment rate at its highest since records began and the proportion of young people who have left full-time education and are unemployed at its lowest ever rate, today’s figures show that the unemployment rate has dropped to below 5 per cent – the lowest since 2005.
On the welcome news, Kelly said:
“Today’s figures show that employment is growing across all the regions and nations of the United Kingdom as we build a Britain that works for everyone. The number of people locally relying on the key out of work benefits has fallen by 1,032, which represents a significant number of people now able to enjoy the fruits and independence we wish for in life. It is also testament to the hard work put in over the past few years, with both our national and local economies helping to drive our community forwards”
“As the number of workless households is down to an all-time low, we are delivering more economic security and providing opportunities that give families in Rochester and Strood the best chance in life. Our job now is to build on this success story and create an economy that works for everyone, so people can benefit from the opportunities that are being created regardless of who they are or where they live.”