Unemployment is 106 lower than a year ago - Farron

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed figures, released last week, that show unemployment in Westmorland & Lonsdale is 106 lower than a year ago.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the total number of unemployed claimants in Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in May 2015 was 211. This represents a rate of 0.5% of the economically active population aged 16 to 64, the 645th highest of the 650 UK constituencies. (1st = highest claimant rate, 650th = lowest claimant rate.)

This includes 161 people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and 50 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 106 lower than in May 201. This data is not seasonally adjusted.

Tim said: "This is good news for South Cumbria and I heartily welcome it. We are the economic heart of the county and I will keep doing all I can to support businesses and in our high streets."