New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show there are four million more people in work since 2010 and 298,586 more people in a job across the South West, helping to grow the region’s economy. There are a record 33.1 million people in work in the UK, with unemployment at a near record low of 3.8% - down from 7.9% in 2010. The figures also show wages growing at their fastest pace outside of the pandemic at 7.2%.
Commenting, Central Devon MP and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride said:
“While there is a lot more to do, particularly on bringing inflation down further, it is very encouraging to see a record number of people in work. The government is doing everything it possibly can to remove barriers for parents on universal credit to take on more hours, to support people with disabilities to access employment opportunities, and to help people over the age of 50 who took early retirement after the pandemic to return to work.”
