Kelly Tolhurst MP has welcomed the news that employment across the UK continues to run at a record high, the unemployment rate has fallen to an 11-year low, and that according to today’s figures there are 327,000 more people back in work in the South East since 2010.
In Rochester and Strood, the number of people claiming the key out of work benefits has fallen by 809 - a 39% per cent drop – since 2010. The total number of claimants (both Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit) is now 82 lower than in October 2015 and 19 lower than in September 2016.
As well as the employment rate continuing to run at a record high, today’s figures show that wages are continuing to rise strongly. Youth unemployment is down by almost 350,000 since 2010, the number of disabled people in work has increased by 590,000 in the past three years, and the proportion of women in work is at a joint record high. Over 70 per cent of the rise in employment since 2010 has been from full time work.
On the news Kelly said:
‘Today sees another set of strong figures, with employment continuing to run at a record high and unemployment falling to an 11-year low.
‘The number of people in Rochester and Strood relying on the key out of work benefits has fallen by 809 since 2010 – a 39% drop. Growth is being fuelled by full-time professional jobs while wages are continuing to grow strongly, which underlines the resilience of the UK labour market.
‘The measures we have taken have put our economy in a position of strength, and we will work to ensure more people can benefit from these opportunities as we build a country that works for everyone.