STEPHEN Metcalfe, Member of Parliament for South Basildon & East Thurrock, has welcomed the latest employment figures showing that the number of people in work is at an all-time high.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that employment is at a record high of 74.2%, or 31.6 million people. The amount of women in work is also the highest it has been since 1971, at 69.2%.
The unemployment rate is at its lowest in a decade at 5.1%, falling to 1.69 million between January and March 2016. This represents a decrease of 2,000 from the previous quarter.
Locally, data from the Office for National Statistics shows that the total number of claimants (both Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit) is 66 lower than in April 2015 and 51 lower than in March 2016.
Mr Metcalfe said: “The latest employment figures show that the UK economy is continuing to grow, with more people finding the security of a job both nationally and locally.
“I am particularly pleased that the number of women in work is at its highest since records began. Conservatives in government are determined to ensure that women have equal work opportunities to men and that the gender pay gap continues to close.”
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