Justin Tomlinson 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 214,000 more people back in work in the South West since 2010.
Across Swindon, the number of people claiming the key out of work benefits has fallen by almost 3,000 - a 62% drop – since May 2010.
As the former Minister for Disabled People, Justin is particularly delighted that more than 590,000 people with a disability have moved into work since 2013.
In addition to 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% of the rise in employment since 2010 has been from full time work.
Justin Tomlinson MP said: “Today sees another set of strong figures, with employment continuing to run at a record high and unemployment falling to a 11-year low. The number of people in Swindon relying on the key out of work benefits has fallen by 3,000 since May 2010 – a 62% 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. In particular, as the former Minister for Disabled People, I am particularly delighted that more than 590,000 people with a disability have moved into work since 2013”
Key statistics
- Employment: 31.8 million (up 461,000 over the past year and up 2.8 million since 2010).
- Employment rate: 74.5% (up 0.7 points over the past year and up 4.3 points since 2010).
- Unemployment: 1.6 million (down 146,000 over the past year and down 906,000 since 2010).
- Unemployment rate: 4.8% (down 0.5 points over the past year and down 3.2 points since 2010).
- Claimant count (Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit searching for work): 803,300 in September (down 691,500 since 2010).
- The unemployment rate has dropped to an 11-year low of just 4.8% – down by more than 900,000 since 2010.
- Employment continues to run at a record high rate of 74.5%, with 31.8 million people in work – an increase of almost 2.8 million since 2010.
- The rise in employment continues to be driven by full-time work, which is up by 2 million since 2010.
- Long-term unemployment is the lowest it has been since 2008.
- Average wages including bonuses grew by 2.3% over the last year.
- The claimant count remained at 2.3%, close to its lowest rate since 1975.
- 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.
- The proportion of women in work is at a joint record high of 69.8 per cent.
