Richard Benyon, Member of Parliament for Newbury, has welcomed this month’s record-breaking employment figures showing that there are more people in work than ever before, with 320,000 more people in work across the South East. Since 2010, there are over 2.7 million more people in work across the United Kingdom.
In Newbury, the number of people claiming the key out of work benefits has fallen by 992 - a 72% drop – since 2010.
These figures show that the record high employment rate has been fuelled by full-time work, which has accounted for three-quarters of the employment growth since 2010, and that average wages grew by 2.4 per cent over the last year.
Richard said:
‘I am delighted by the recent employment figures, and how more people than ever are finding work in Newbury. The figures show that employment is growing across all the regions and nations of the United Kingdom as we build a Britain that works for everyone not just the privileged few.
‘The number of people in Newbury relying on the key out of work benefits has fallen by 992 since 2010 – a 72% drop. Nevertheless, we aren’t complacent which is why we’re pressing ahead with welfare reforms like Universal Credit making sure that it always pays for people to be in work.
‘With the employment rate at a record high, the unemployment rate at its lowest level in over 10 years, and wages up whilst inflation has remained low, the Government is making sure that everyone can share in the country’s wealth.’