Farron - unemployment is 174 lower than last year

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed news that unemployment in Westmorland & Lonsdale is 174 people lower than a year ago.

This includes 253 people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and 30 people who were claiming Universal Credit but were not in employment (provisional estimate; rounded to the nearest ten). Some of these Universal Credit claimants may no longer be seeking work.

The total number of claimants (both Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit) is 174 lower than in February 2014. The fall in unemployment in the last year was a colossal 34.1% and unemployment has fallen by 54.6% since 2010.

Tim said: "These figures are welcome news and show that our work over the last five years is playing off. But this has been a real team effort - public and private sector working together with entrepreneurs and investors to allow our area to buck the trend.

"We must now work to tackle wages. Our issue in the Lakes is less about employment and more about pay. This is why I am so supportive of the Living Wage. I will keep urging the public sector to take the lead within the county and introduce the wage for their staff."