Farron: Local Unemployment falls but living standards face squeeze
Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has welcomed a fall in local unemployment, but has warned that living standards face a squeeze due to rising inflation and slowing wage growth.
The total number of unemployed claimants in Tim's Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in March was 265. This was 10 lower than the equivalent figure for the year before, and 5 lower than the previous month.
Westmorland and Lonsdale has the 12th lowest unemployment rate of all 650 UK constituencies.
However, Tim has warned that living standards face a squeeze as rising inflation starts to wipe out wage growth.
Tim said: "A fall in local unemployment is good news for local residents and for the local economy. Local businesses deserve credit for their success in continuing to create jobs for local people.
"However, rising prices mean that wages are struggling to keep up with inflation. The government must keep inflation in check while supporting the local economy so that local people are not only able to find employment but able to enjoy rising living standards."