Adam Afriyie, the MP for Windsor, has welcomed unemployment statistics today showing that the British jobs miracle is continuing unabated. Despite analysts predicting a decrease in employment of 13,000, the number of people employed rose by 102,000. The value of the Pound rose to $1.42, equivalent to its value before the UK voted to leave the EU.

The same was true of Windsor, were unemployment hit a fresh low of 405, or 0.7%. Windsor, traditionally in the lowest 10% of constituencies for unemployment, is now in the lowest 3% of constituencies!

Nationally, the employment rate has reached 75.3%, the highest rate since records began in 1971. This is significantly higher than the peak employment rate under the last Labour Government, which reached 73.1% prior to Labour’s Great Recession.

 

The MP for the Windsor constituency, Adam Afriyie welcomed the figures:

“What an excellent start to the year. Far from the gloomy predictions this time last year, unemployment is dropping and the strength of the Pound is rising!

“The Government’s firm but fair policies on welfare reform and raising the Personal Allowance have succeeded in making work pay and leading to the highest ever employment rate.

“It is clear that the markets have profound confidence in this Government’s plan for an Industrial Strategy focussed on building the right environment for investment and exports outside of the Single Market and an education and immigration system designed to fill the skills gaps.

“I am confident that these policies, combined with our dynamic business culture, unmatched anywhere else in Europe, should make us optimistic about our economic future outside of the European Union.”

 

ENDS

Note to editors

1.    Adam Afriyie is the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Ghana.

2.    He has a strong background in science, technology and innovation.

3.    He is currently Chairman of the Fintech APPG, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) and President of the Conservative Technology Forum (CTF).

4.    He was shadow Minister for Science from 2007-2010 and has a background in the information services and technology sector.

5.    Statistics

a.     Total unemployment – 405 

b.     Rate of unemployment – 0.7%

c.    Ranked – 630^th of 650

d.     Youth unemployment (18-24) - 50 (figures are rounded to the nearest 5)