Unemployment in Rochester & Strood down again

The Rochester and Strood unemployment figures for December 2015 were published this week and they show that joblessness is moving in the right direction in our area. During the election we pledged to reduce unemployment. These latest figures show that Government policy is continuing to work.

The figures show that for December 2015:

• the total number of unemployed claimants in Rochester and Strood constituency was 1,226 (just 2.2% of the economically active population aged 16 to 64),
• the UK-wide claimant rate was 2.4%,
• the number of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance was 1,152, 
• the number of those claiming Universal Credit was 74 people,
• the total number of claimants (both Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit) is 81 lower than in December 2014 and 37 lower than in November 2015.
• there were 255 young people claiming in Rochester and Strood, which is 100 claimants lower than December 2014. (Claimants aged between 18-24 and rounded to the nearest 5 claimants.)

 Association Chairman Andrew Mackness said on receiving the figures: "Seeing fewer people relying on Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit in Rochester and Strood is great news for everyone locally. Additionally, as wages are still rising faster than inflation, it is clear that our long term economic plan is delivering for the people of our area. 

Source: Briefing Paper Number 7471, 20 January 2016, Unemployment by Constituency, By Aliyah Dar, Feargal McGuinness & Anna Moses.