Figures released from the House of Commons’ Library show that the number of unemployed claimants in South West Bedfordshire in November 2018 was 525. This represents a rate of 0.9% of the economically active population aged 16-64. The total number of claimants is 35 lower than November 2017. The number of claimants is 74% lower than November 2010. Three quarters of the rise in employment nationally has been in full time work and over 70% has been in higher skilled occupations. On average, over a thousand people have moved into work every day since 2010.
South West Bedfordshire MP, Andrew Selous said:
“I am delighted to see that the number of claimants is going down. It is businesses like Marks and Spencer who will be creating 55-60 new jobs in Leighton Buzzard who have helped us get so many more people into work, with the security of a pay packet”