Unemployment is 147 lower than a year ago - Farron

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed news that unemployment in Westmorland & Lonsdale is 147 people lower than a year ago. These figures give Westmorland amongst the lowest unemployment rate in the UK.

The figures released this morning by the Office of National Statistics show that the number of Jobseeker's Allowance claimants in Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in November 2014 was 235.This represents a rate of 0.6% of the economically active population aged 16 to 64, the 5th lowest unemployment rate of the 650 UK constituencies.

The number of claimants is 147 lower than in November 2013. Our local picture is mirrored nationally.

In the August-to-October period, average earnings excluding bonuses were up 1.6% from a year earlier. Including bonuses, earnings rose by 1.4%. It is the first time for six years that both measures of earnings growth have been above the inflation rate. Meanwhile, the number of people unemployed in the quarter fell by 63,000 to 1.96 million.

Tim said: "These figures are good news and show that our campaigns on jobs, investment and apprenticeships is paying off and I want to pay tribute to local businesses who are working so hard to boost our economy."