Caroline Dinenage MP has welcomed new figures showing that there are more people in work than ever before.
Figures released yesterday by the Office of National Statistics show the employment rate at an all-time high of 75.3%, with a record 32.14 million people in work. Youth unemployment has fallen by over 40% since 2010, dropping below 5% for the first time. There are 410,000 fewer young people out of work since 2010. The number of workers over 50 has reached a high of 9.94 million, and the female employment rate has reached a record 70.8%, with over 15.1 million women in work. Unemployment has fallen to its lowest level since 1975. This builds on data released last month showing that since 2010, the Conservative Government has delivered employment for over 3 million more people.
Employment growth is largely attributable to an increase in full time employment, which has reached a record high of 23.59 million.
In Gosport, unemployment has fallen by 703 since August 2010, representing a drop of 51%. Youth unemployment has fallen by 220 over the same period.
Commenting, Caroline said: ‘It’s really encouraging that both locally and nationally Government policies are helping more and more people into work, especially given predictions of rocketing unemployment in the wake of last year’s vote to leave the EU. This really reflects the strength and the resilience of our economy. There is of course more to do, but the latest figures are a welcome indication that policies are working, and we’re moving in the right direction.’