Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns has today welcomed figures released by the independent Office of National Statistics (ONS) that show unemployment in the UK at a six-year low, and that the number of claimants in Bournemouth West has almost halved since May 2010.
Within the constituency, the number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance has fallen from a peak of 2,082 to a low of 1,084, representing just 2.2 per cent of the working population. This is significantly lower than the national JSA claimant rate of 3.2 per cent.
Youth unemployment within the constituency has also fallen to a rate of 1.5 per cent, significantly down on the figure of 3.2 per cent recorded at the time of the last election.
Commenting, Conor Burns said: “Today’s independent ONS figures are very welcome. Both unemployment and youth unemployment are down in Bournemouth West, helping more people to support themselves and their families. Moreover, the national figures show that the government’s long-term economic plan is working, and more people have the security of a pay cheque at the end of the month as a result."