Figures out yesterday show that more people are in work than ever before. In the Gainsborough constituency, the number of people claiming the key out of work benefits has fallen by 574 – a thirty-two per cent drop – since 2010.
Employment has increased in the East Midlands, with 2,406,408 people in work – an increase of 263,502 more people in work since 2010.
Sir Edward has welcomed the new figures, which show that unemployment is at a forty-year low and that the number of young people out of work has fallen by 140 people on average every day under the Conservatives.
Sir Edward commented:
“Under the Conservatives a record number of people are now in work as unemployment continues to fall to record lows. And with wages rising faster than prices, pay packets can go further.
“That means more people have the security of a job and are able to provide for their families. We want to do more to deliver more well-paid jobs, which is why we have launched our modern Industrial Strategy. Labour would put all this at risk.
“Only the Conservatives will continue to take the balanced approach our economy needs to support businesses to create better, higher paying jobs, ensuring our future security and prosperity.”
Facts & Figures
- Employment: 32.39 million (up 440,000 over the last year and up more than 3.3 million since 2010). While the number of people working full time is at a record high, with over 1.2 million more women in work since 2010.
- Employment rate: 75.6 per cent (up 0.8 points over the past year and up 5.4 points since 2010) - the highest since comparable records began in 1971.
- Unemployment: 1.42 million (down 115,000 over the past year and down by almost 1.1 million since 2010).
- Unemployment rate: 4.2 per cent (down 0.4 points over the past year and down 3.8 points since 2010) – the lowest since 1975.
- Wages: Weekly earnings rose by 2.8 per cent compared with a year earlier. Wages are rising faster than prices – this is good news, but there is more to do. In the last year, regular pay for employees in Great Britain increased by 0.4 percentage points ahead of inflation.
- Youth unemployment: There are 419,000 fewer young people out of work since 2010 – a 44.6 per cent drop since 2010.