Marcus Jones has welcomed the news that unemployment across the UK remains at the joint lowest rate for over a decade – down nearly 900,000 since 2010 – according to the latest set of labour market figures out today, with 238,000 more people back in work in the West Midlands since 2010. 

In Nuneaton, the number of people claiming the key out of work benefits has fallen by 1,142 – a 52 per cent drop – since 2010. Marcus is pleased with this progress but compared to other local areas he believes that progress is stalling because of the lack of new employment land being offered because of the delay in the Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Plan.

As well as unemployment continuing to run at a 10-year low, the number of women in work is at a record high of almost 15 million and youth unemployment is down 352,000 since 2010. There are 31.8 million people in work, up by 2.7 million since 2010 – that’s well over 1,000 jobs created on average every day – and average wages excluding bonuses grew by 2.6 per cent over the last year.

Local MP Marcus Jones MP said: ‘Building an economy that works for everyone means making sure everyone can have the security of a regular income so they can provide for themselves and their family. Today’s figures are good news for families in Nuneaton and across the UK, but we have got to do more. The council needs to take action to attract more inward investment into Nuneaton town centre and bring forward more employment land in the area to create more jobs, as we are starting to fall behind other areas.

‘But there is more to do to help people of all backgrounds and abilities into work, which is why we will continue with our important reforms to welfare that are ensuring it always pays to be in work. It’s because of the measures we have taken to put our economy in a position of strength that we can build a country that works for everyone – with more people sharing in our country’s prosperity.”