Conservatives’ long-term economic plan

Matt Warman: Conservatives’ long-term economic plan bringing more families in Boston and Skegness the security of work

Matt Warman has welcomed new figures showing 1,073 fewer people in Boston and Skegness claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance compared to 2010 – a 37 per cent drop. This means more people in work, with the self-respect and security of a good job and a regular pay packet.

People are getting off benefits and into work across the East Midlands, with 149,000 more people in work since the last election.

Overall there are now a record 30.9 million people in work, with 1.85 million more people in work since the last election. The employment rate, at 73.2 per cent is also the highest on record.

These new jobs are not insecure or poorly paid. Three quarters of new jobs since the last election are full-time, and as the new figures also confirm pay is now rising above inflation – with total pay up 2.1 per cent on the year, well ahead of inflation, which was 0.9 per cent over the period.

Jobs are being created in Boston and Skegness by businesses across the constituency.

Matt Warman said:

‘1,073 fewer people relying on Jobseeker’s Allowance in Boston and Skegness is excellent news – and alongside the news that wages are rising faster than prices, it’s clear that the Conservatives’ long term economic plan is delivering a more financially secure future for families in our area.

‘This is happening because we’ve been working through our plan, backing businesses with better infrastructure and lower jobs taxes to create more real jobs, and fixing welfare so that work always pays. These jobs are not insecure or poorly paid. In fact three quarters of new jobs have been full-time and wages are rising. Locally we’ve seen this working with new jobs at businesses across the constituency.

‘Voters in Boston and Skegness will have a clear choice to make in May, in the most important election we’ve had in a generation. Either we stick with the Conservatives’ plan which is delivering jobs, so more people have the self-respect and peace of mind that comes with a regular pay packet. Or all that is put at risk by the economic chaos a vote for any one of the other parties would bring.’

Notes to Editors

Headline national figures

On 18 February 2015, the ONS published labour market statistics for the three months to December 2014 and the Claimant Count (Jobseeker’s Allowance) figures for January 2015 (ONS, Labour Market Statistics, 18 February 2015, link).

Key statistics

Employment: 30.9 million (up 103,000 this quarter and up 1.85 million since the election).
Employment rate: 73.2 per cent (up 0.2 points this quarter and up 3.0 points since the election).
Unemployment: 1.86 million (down 97,000 this quarter and down 648,000 since the election).
Unemployment rate: 5.7 per cent (down 0.3 points this quarter and down 2.3 points since the election).
Claimant count: 823,000 in January (down 38,600 on December and down 671,800 since the election).
Wages: total pay is up 2.1 per cent. Inflation measured by the CPI over the same period increased by 0.9 per cent.
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 than in 2010 – the increase in private sector employment is over five times the fall in public sector jobs.
Three quarters of the number of people in work since the election are in full-time jobs – full-time jobs accounted for 76 per cent of the rise in employment over the past year.
Youth unemployment is 199,000 lower than at the election.
Long-term unemployment (over 12 months) is down 149,000 since the election.
The number of women in work is at a record high of 14.5 million.
The number of people claiming the main out-of-work benefits is at its lowest level since 1990.
There were 718,000 job vacancies, the highest number on record.

Local figures

On 18 February January 2015, the ONS published regional employment statistics for the three months to December 2014. Constituency claimant count figures for January 2015 were also published, available on the nomis website (ONS, Regional Labour Market Statistics,18 February 2015, link; nomis, accessed 18 February 2015, link).

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