New figures from the Office for National Statistics show there are now 1.75 million more people in work than at the last election and wages are rising above inflation – a major moment in the British economic recovery.
This is a major moment in the British economic recovery with a record number of people in work and wages rising above inflation. It’s a clear sign our long-term economic plan is working, building a stronger, healthier economy.
Mims Davies says "It's great news that 642 fewer people in Eastleigh are relying on Jobseeker's Allowance to get by. This is a clear sign that the Conservatives' long-term economic plan is working - helping people get off benefits and into work".
We have been backing businesses with better infrastructure and lower jobs taxes, and have capped welfare so our economy delivers for people who want to work hard and play by the rules. There are now 1.75 million more people with the security of work, and pay packets are rising above inflation. Each one of those jobs is another family who can now have more peace of mind about their future.
But we know there is more to do and that families are still feeling the impact of Labour’s Great Recession. This is why we need to stick with our long-term economic plan that is helping deliver economic security for hardworking taxpayers across our country.
On Labour: Labour left nearly half a million more people without a job and Ed Miliband predicted that our economic plan would ‘lead to the disappearance of a million jobs’. But there are now more than 1.75 million more people in work. This shows Ed Miliband is just not up to the job and Labour don’t have a plan for Britain’s future. They would put all the progress we have made at risk with their call for more spending and more borrowing.
Key statistics
· Employment: 30.8 million (up 115,000 this quarter and up 1.75 million since the election).
· Employment rate: 73.0 per cent (up 0.2 points this quarter and up 2.7 points since the election).
· Unemployment: 1.96 million (down 63,000 this quarter and down 552,000 since the election).
· Unemployment rate: 6.0 per cent (down 0.2 points this quarter and down 2 points since the election).
· Claimant count: 900,100 in November (down 26,900 on October and down 594,700 since the election).
· Wages: regular pay (average earnings excluding bonuses) is up 1.6 per cent on the year and private sector pay is up 2 per cent. Inflation measured by the CPI increased by 1.3 per cent between October 2013 and October 2014.
Other useful statistics: including full-time jobs, youth unemployment and long-term unemployment
· Nearly 2.2 million more people are employed in the private sector since the election – the increase in private sector employment is over five times the fall in public sector jobs.
· Over three quarters of the number of people in work since the election are full-time jobs – full-time jobs accounted for 95 per cent of the rise in employment over the past year.
· Youth unemployment is 185,000 lower than at the election and the number of young people claiming the main unemployment benefit is at its lowest level since the 1970s.
· Long-term unemployment (over 12 months) is down 104,000 since the election.
· Since 2010 two thirds of the rise in employment has been in higher skilled occupations.
· The number of women in work is at a record high of 14.4 million.
· The number of people claiming the main unemployment benefit is at its lowest level since July 2008.
Promoted by Judy Jamieson on behalf of Mims Davies both of Eastleigh Conservatives, The Hill, Upper Northam Close, Hedge End, Southampton S030 4BB