North Swindon MP, Justin Tomlinson has welcomed the news that shows unemployment continuing to fall across the UK, with Swindon in particular powering ahead, having a lower and lower unemployment rate and a claimant count well below the national average.
Following new employment statistics from the Department of Work and Pensions for the month of December 2016, it shows an overall drop in the number of JSA claimants in Swindon has fallen by 110 in the past month. The claimant rate nationally has fallen to 2.8%, with Swindon’s claimant rate down to only 1.3%, also a record low.
Furthermore since 2010, the number of claimants has fallen by a staggering 2,540 – a fall of over 60%. That’s 2,540 people locally who have moved off benefits in the last 6 years.
The UK figures also showed that youth unemployment had fallen by over 360,000 since 2010 and that there is both a record number of women in employment, and record overall employment in all regions of the UK as the strong economic growth is being felt in all sectors.
Justin commented, “By backing business we are delivering strong growth which Swindon is directly benefitting from, with a staggering 8,100 new jobs created in Swindon since 2010. I welcome the news that average wages are up 2.7% from last year. As the economy continues to grow, it is so important for people to feel reward from their work.”
