Taunton Deane MP, Rebecca Pow has welcomed today’s figures showing that there are 231,000 more people in work across the South West and 2.7 million more people across the United Kingdom back in work than in 2010, meaning that more families across Taunton Deane have the security of a regular pay packet.

In Taunton Deane, the number of people claiming the key out of work benefits has fallen by 689- a 47% per cent drop – since 2010.

With the employment rate at a record high, the female employment rate at its highest since records began and the proportion of young people who have left full-time education and are unemployed at its lowest ever rate, today’s figures show that the unemployment rate has dropped to below 5 per cent – the lowest since 2005. 

Commenting, Rebecca said: 

‘Because of the decisions Conservatives have taken over the past six years, the fundamentals of our economy are strong and will continue to be strong.

‘Today’s figures show that employment is growing across all the regions and nations of the United Kingdom as we build a Britain that works for everyone.  The number of people locally relying on the key out of work benefits has fallen by 689 since 2010 – nearly a 50% drop.

‘As the number of workless households is down to an all-time low, we are delivering more economic security and providing opportunities that give families in Taunton Deane the best chance in life.  Our job now is to build on this success story and create an economy that works for everyone, so people can benefit from the opportunities that are being created regardless of who they are or where they live.’