The claimant count fell across the London Borough of Sutton again in April.
In Carshalton & Wallington it fell to 391, which was a decrease of 466 from April 2015 and a drop of 54.4%. In Sutton & Cheam it fell to 464, which was a decrease of 289 from April 2015 and a drop of 38.4%.
Today’s national statistics are another record-breaking set of figures, with more people in work than ever before and the unemployment rate at the lowest in a decade at 5.1%. The employment rate for women has hit 69.2%, the highest since 1971, and the proportion of people who are economically inactive has never been lower at 21.7%.
Improving life chances is a key priority for this government, and more people in work means that more families across the UK are benefiting from the security of a paycheque and the fulfilment that employment brings. Since early 2010 the number of UK nationals in work has risen by 1.5 million, accounting for around 60% of the total rise in employment.
With wages continuing to grow – 2.1% over the last year – and inflation remaining low, real earnings have increased over the last year, raising families’ living standards across the country.
Our welfare reforms, such as Universal Credit, are making sure that it always pays to be in work – we are focussing on creating a Britain with opportunity at its heart. By introducing the National Living Wage, reforming welfare, increasing childcare support, creating 3 million apprenticeships by 2020 and driving forward the Northern Powerhouse agenda, this Government is committed to bringing that opportunity to all parts of society.