MP welcomes fall in unemployment rate

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed today's unemployment figures from the Office of National Statistics, which show a further fall in the number of unemployed people in Westmorland and Lonsdale.

The number of unemployed people in Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in April 2014 was 357. This represents a rate of 0.9% of the economically active population aged 16 to 64, the 643rd highest of the 650 UK parliamentary constituencies. (1st = highest rate of unemployment, 650th = lowest rate of unemployment.)

The number of claimants is 180 lower than in April 2013 and 34 lower than in March 2014. This data is not seasonally adjusted.

Tim said: "This further fall in unemployment is encouraging new for the South Lakes. However, there is absolutely no room for complacency, and we must remain aware of the fact that the South Lakes has a large elderly population which isn't accounted for in these figures.

"Moreover, while unemployment is low; wages are often lower here than elsewhere as the South Lakes employs a higher percentage of seasonal workers than most other places in the region. This is why it is so important that we bring well paid jobs and apprenticeships to our community."