Henry Smith MP has welcomed the latest figures which show that the number of people out of work is at a record low. In Crawley, the number of people who are unemployed has fallen by 1,365 – a 59 per cent drop – since 2010.

Employment has increased in the south east of England, with 4,552,127 people in work – an increase of 360,127 more people in work since 2010.

The Crawley MP has welcomed the new figures, which show that unemployment is at its lowest since 1975 and that the number of young people out of work has fallen by over 447,000 in the last eight years.

Henry said;

“Unemployment continues to fall to record lows. Thanks to the Government’s welfare reforms, more people are being helped into work – and through the modern Industrial Strategy, businesses are getting backing to create jobs.

“That means more people benefit from getting up every day to a good job, and more people have the financial security of a regular pay packet to provide for themselves and their families.”

The Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, Rt Hon Esther McVey MP, said;

“With the unemployment rate falling further to just 4 per cent, and youth unemployment down over 45 per cent since 2010, school leavers this week can look forward to a growing jobs market, improving the prospects for their future careers.

“In fact the UK’s vibrant jobs market is benefiting people across the board. Record rates of ethnic minority people in work also show that more families across our society are benefiting from the security of a job, with wages also on the increase.

“We have some of the most creative, innovative and hard-working young people in the world and this summer I’ve been urging them to take on a summer job, gaining ‘soft skills’ – or as I call them, essential skills – for their future careers.”