DWP - South West employment level hits a new record high

UK Unemployment has dropped below 7 per cent for the first time since the recession and employment has seen the biggest annual jump in a generation, figures published by the Office for National Statistics yesterday show.

UK Unemployment has dropped below 7 per cent for the first time since the recession and employment has seen the biggest annual jump in a generation, figures published by the Office for National Statistics yesterday show.

Commenting on the figures for the South West, Employment Minister Esther McVey said:

“The South West saw its employment level hit a new record high of 2.62 million in the last three months, and nationally, more and more businesses are hiring - so it's a credit to them that Britain is working again.

"But there is still more to do - which is why I’m calling on even more employers in the South West to work with us to tap into the fantastic pool of talent and potential the area has to offer.”

Nationally, unemployment fell by 77,000 in the last three months, taking the unemployment rate to 6.9 per cent for the first time since 2009.

In the largest annual rise in nearly 25 years, the number of people of people in a job rose by 691,000 – more than double the population of Newcastle - bringing the record number of people in work to 30.39 million.

Wages also rose on the year by 1.7 per cent, against yesterday's announcement that March’s inflation had dropped to 1.6 per cent, and job vacancies rose again, up 108,000 over the past year bringing the number of vacancies in the UK economy to 611,000.

The number of people in work has increased by 1.5 million since 2010 - over a million of these jobs are full-time – and the employment rate is now 72.6 per cent, showing the Government’s long-term economic plan to back enterprise and businesses so they can create jobs is working. 

The proportion of women in work also hit a new record of 67.6 per cent - the highest since records began.

Long-term unemployment is down 93,000 on the year, which is the largest annual fall since 1998. The number of unemployed young people also fell, by 38,000 over the last three months, and has been falling now for the last seven months. 

The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance fell by 30,400 last month and is down 386,100 on the year. The number of young people claiming JSA has been falling for the last 22 months.

Yesterday Peter Carr, deputy chief executive of Gloucestershire ’s economic partnership, GFirst LEP, said: “It is tremendous news that unemployment in Gloucestershire has fallen since last month, over all six districts within the county.

"We have seen a number of start-up companies creating new employment opportunities, Gloucestershire is well placed in the country for attracting inward investment, with many diverse, innovative and specialist businesses choosing to make their base here."

He added: “Strategically, we have plans to further reduce unemployment in the county and unlock potential, aiming to generate 34,000 new jobs and create more than 5,000 apprenticeship opportunities by 2022. “More immediately, if anyone aged over 18 would like support or advice with applying for work and training please contact our Employment and Skills Team on 0800 002 9838.”