With a record breaking 30.8 million people in work, Britain’s employment rate is the same as its 2008, pre-recession peak. Since the government’s election there are 744,248 fewer people having to claim Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) - close to a 50% reduction. East Hampshire has outpaced this exciting trend, with a 65% reduction in JSA claimants since 2010 – resulting in just 0.8% of the economically active population having to claim the benefit.
As well as more people being in work, the wages they are taking home are now increasing at a rate above the cost of living. Nationally, we are seeing pay packets increase at 1.8%, compared to 1.2% inflation.
Schemes like the New Enterprise Allowance and start - up loans are further evidence of the government’s determination to generate jobs and ensure more people have the security and peace of mind of a regular pay packet.
Damian said: "It is great to see that fewer people in East Hampshire are claiming Job Seekers Allowance and that across the UK more people are getting off benefits and into work. As a government we have been committed to taking action to fix the economy – backing business to create more jobs and fixing the welfare system so that work always pays."
Note to Editors
- UK unemployment: Since 2010, there has been a 744,248 reduction in JSA claimants, a 47% reduction. Since December 2013, there has been a 377,632 reduction in claimants
- East Hampshire unemployment: Since 2010, there has been a 65% reduction in JSA claimants. Since December 2013, this has fallen by 37%. East Hampshire now has one of the lowest rates of unemployment – it ranks 617th out of 650 ( 1st being the highest rate of unemployment, 650th, the lowest)
- New Enterprise Allowance helps unemployed people on out of work benefits start up their own business by providing mentoring and a weekly allowance. Since 2011, there have been over 115,000 starts with a business mentor
- Start-up loans. The Start-Up Loans scheme provides loans and mentoring support to people wanting to set up a business. 25,000 Start-Up Loans, worth nearly £130 million, have now been awarded. According to the Start Up Loan Company, more than 32,000 new jobs have been generated as a result of the scheme since it was launched in 2012