EVESHAM’S MP has urged the Government to back more measures to help businesses take on more people after new figures showed unemployment rose across Mid Worcestershire.
The claimant count stood at 535 at the end of December, a rise of 25 compared with the month before, according to the Office for National Statistics.
However, the constituency still has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and the number of people claiming out-of-work benefits is also down by over 100 compared to the same period last year.
Nigel Huddleston MP told the Observer small rises in the number of people out-of-work was to be expected in areas where the figure is already low, but warned against complacency.
“There will be small rises from time to time in the claimant count, not least due to the rise and fall of seasonal work,” Mr Huddleston said.
“Small rises will also be more common in constituencies where the unemployment count is already comparatively low – Mid Worcestershire has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the West Midlands and is in the lowest quartile nationally.
“The employment trajectory in Mid Worcestershire is still on the right course but we must not get complacent. I will continue to monitor the figures and press the Government on bringing forward further measures to support businesses and enable them to employ more people.”
“The total number of claimants has fallen dramatically since this time last year and over the last quarter. What’s more those people who are in work are better off than they would have been with gross weekly pay and the number of full time jobs up.”
