North Cornwall MP Scott Mann has welcomed the news that the UK unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level in 12 years, according to figures released today.
In the South West, 114,000 more people are back in work in since 2010.
In North Cornwall, the number of people claiming key out-of-work benefits has fallen by 610 - a 48 per cent drop - since 2010.
Today’s figures also show wages continuing to grow strongly, the employment rate running at a record high and long-term unemployment at its lowest since before the 2008 recession.
Welcoming today’s figures, Scott Mann said:
“I’m very pleased to see employment continuing to rise to record levels while unemployment continues to drop.
“This proves that the British economy continues to get stronger, which includes North Cornwall where the number of people relying on key out-of-work benefits is down by 48 per cent since 2010.
“I stood on a local manifesto at the General Election to help promote business growth and encourage people to work rather than rely on benefits, and I have voted in favour of various Budgets and pieces of legislation which has made this happen for the people of North Cornwall, where there are more people in work, more businesses and higher wages.”
Key statistics
- Employment: 31.85 million (up 315,000 over the past year and up 2.8 million since 2010).
- Employment rate: 74.6 per cent (up 0.5 points over the past year and up 4.4 points since 2010).
- Unemployment: 1.58 million (Down 106,000 over the past year and down 925,000 since 2010).
- Unemployment rate: 4.7 per cent (down 0.3 points over the past year and down 3.2 points since 2010).
Key Points
- The unemployment rate has fallen to 4.7 per cent – the lowest level in 12 years (since 2005).
- Employment continues to run at a record high rate of 74.6 per cent, with 31.85 million people in work.
- Average weekly wages grew above inflation over the last year – by 2.2 per cent (Up 0.7 in real terms).
- Long-term unemployment is at 393,000 – the lowest since before the 2008 recession.
- The proportion of 16-24 year olds who have left full-time education and are unemployed is 5.1 per cent, a record low.
- The proportion of women in work is at a near-record high of 69.8 per cent.
