South Lakeland unemployment drop is welcomed by MP

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today welcomed another fall in unemployment in the South Lakes.

This morning the Office for National Statistics announced a drop in unemployment of 115 in South Lakeland since April 2012, and 54 since March of this year.

The number of unemployed claimants in the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in April 2013 was 537.

Tim intends to redouble his campaign to increase the number of well paid jobs in the South Lakes and was involved in the successful bid to bring the £500million GlaxoSmithKline development to the area.

In addition, Tim has been involved in securing success for Cumbria's bid in DEFRA's Rural Growth Network, bringing investment to Clawthorpe Hall in Burton-in-Kendal, Ambleside Campus and Marl in Ulverston. The successful campaign to bring the University of Cumbria back to Ambleside will also create 100 jobs and bring up to £15 million of investment into the South Lakes economy.

Furthermore, Tim remains a vociferous champion of apprenticeships in our county. In Westmorland & Lonsdale the apprenticeship figures have risen by 96%, but Tim remains committed to ensuring this figure continues to rise in order to ensure local young people are equipped with the skills they need for long term employment.

Commenting, Tim said: "This announcement is encouraging news for our local economy, and shows the resilience of South Cumbria's businesses to an extremely challenging economic climate. 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."