I was delighted to learn that in the month of September, of the 650 parliamentary constituencies in the UK, Kenilworth and Southam registered the lowest number of unemployed claimants. With the national employment rate at a record high, it is great to see Kenilworth and Southam delivering such positive results and this is very welcome news that should be celebrated.
The total number of unemployed claimants was 181, representing 0.5% of the economically active population aged 16 to 64. The equivalent UK claimant rate was 2.4%. This includes 110 people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance and 71 people claiming Universal Credit who were required to seek work. The total number of claimants is 29 lower than in September 2015 and 4 lower than in August 2016. There were 35 claimants aged 18-24 in September 2016, 5 lower than in September 2015.
Nationally the UK jobless rate held steady at a near 11-year low of 4.9% in the three months to August. These strong figures are evidence of a business climate where jobs are being created.
Over the coming months negotiations to begin the process of Britain’s exit from the European Union will take centre stage and we need to place business and growth at the centre of these discussions. I know more can be done to help businesses in Kenilworth and Southam and indeed throughout the UK, to capitalise on the changes and opportunities ahead.
I already know from my meeting business leaders as I travel around the constituency that businesses are rightly calling for strong leadership and stability in the Brexit negotiations and are seeking reassurance that their businesses will continue to grow and prosper. It should also be noted that vocational education needs as much focus as academic education to ensure those courses and qualifications match the needs of businesses.