Chloe SmithMP for Norwich North
Chloe SmithChloe Smith has welcomed new figures today showing the number of people in Norwich claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance has fallen by over 600 since last year and by nearly 3,000 since 2010, which is a percentage drop of 59%.
The official statistics show that Britain’s economic plan continues to create jobs and increase pay packets for families in Norwich and across the country. At 73.7 per cent our employment rate has never been higher and we are moving towards the goal of full employment that we committed to in our manifesto, with jobs being created in Norwich.
The figures also show that average pay growth is now 3 per cent – while inflation is close to flat – meaning working people across Norwich are seeing their wages grow; and our plan for a high-employment and high wage economy is working.
This is being seen across the East with 260,000 more people in work since the last Labour Government - and in the UK as a whole 2.1 million more people now have the security of a job than did in 2010.
Chloe said:
‘These figures are excellent news, showing the number of people in Norwich relying on Jobseeker’s Allowance has fallen by 59% since 2010. I have worked hard with the other Steering Group Member of the Norwich for Jobs Project to focus on helping those in Norwich aged 18-24 who are claiming JSA find work; with successes of seeing 1,776 young people enter paid opportunities through the project by January 2015.
‘With full-time employees making up three quarters of the increase in employment over the past year and wages rising 3 per cent, it is clear that our plan for a high-employment and high-wage economy is working – and we can see that here in Norwich.
‘But we cannot rest. We have over 700,000 job vacancies nationally showing we have an opportunity to help unemployed people back into work. And we must guarantee our economy creates new jobs by ensuring we have a government that lives within its means and our economic recovery is sustained.’