North west employment reaches record high

Employment levels in the north west remain at a record high with 75.3% of people working, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The unemployment rate in the region is at a near record low of 4.1%, equal to the national average, having nearly halved since 2010 (to 149,000).

Northern Powerhouse Minister, Jake Berry MP for Rossendale, said: “Delivering jobs and economic growth for people in the North West is at the heart of our Northern Powerhouse strategy.

“The Government’s £400m investment in the Dreadnought programme safeguards 8,000 jobs in Barrow and across the UK while the new Aerospace Sector Deal will enable the industry in Lancashire and the north west build on the 26,000 people already employed in high-value jobs.”

The figures also show that nationally, real wages are up for the ninth month in a row, with regular pay up 3.3% on the year – its fastest growth in almost a decade – whilst the youth unemployment rate has almost halved since 2010, with female employment at a near record high of 71.2%.

The Minister of State for Employment, Alok Sharma, welcomed the national figures, the best on record with 32.48 million people in work across the UK.

He said: “This is benefitting people across the country, with almost 400,000 more people in work in the last year. Putting more money in the pockets of working families, and showing the UK remains a great place to invest and do business.

“Over 3.3 million more people have entered work since 2010, meaning an average of 1,000 more people in work every day. Sectors across the economy are benefiting, with 23,000 more manufacturing jobs in the last year and 22,000 more jobs in the hospitality sector.

“The statistics also reveal three quarters of jobs created since 2010 are full time, permanent roles that are in higher skilled occupations, which typically bring higher earnings – all ambitions of the government’s Industrial Strategy which seeks to create better, well-paying jobs fit for the future.”

Locally, Jobcentres have continued to support local distribution and logistics companies in the borough with recruitment exercises for drivers, warehouse operatives and production roles with companies such as McCormicks, Nobelia and Paragon Meed.