Local MP Welcomes Fall in Tamworth Unemployment

Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, welcomed figures released this week which show unemployment in Tamworth has fallen once again and continues to fall this year.

Figures published by the ONS show that the number of unemployed claimants in Tamworth constituency in October 2013 was 1,145.  This represents a rate of 2.3% of the economically active population aged 16 to 64.  This number of claimants is a massive 519 lower than October 2012 and 95 lower than in September 2013.

Responding to these figures Christopher Pincher said, “I welcome the news that unemployment in Tamworth has fallen once again and continues to drop below levels seen before the Labour government’s recession.  But we must not be complacent, there is still much to do.

“We must make Tamworth the place to set up or expand a business.  I am pleased to say that my Jobs Fair held in October at South Staffordshire College went off really well and it was encouraging to see that some of the 300-400 jobs on offer have been filled.  I hope they continue to be filled and the unemployment figures continue to fall.

“There are opportunities out there for hardworking people who aspire to get on in life and I welcome the Conservative led government’s campaign to legislate for a £2,000 National Insurance cut for small businesses to help encourage them to take on more staff.  Locally the Council introduced Small Business Saturday, giving small independent business free stalls and shoppers free parking.  We are firmly on the side of business and it is important we continue back small businesses so they have the opportunity to become bigger businesses.”

Tamworth is well above the regional and national levels of employment, which also continues to rise.  West Midlands and national JSA claimants both fell 0.2% to 5.0% and 4.0% respectively.