Coventry Conservatives have welcomed new figures showing 6591 fewer people in the City claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance compared to 2010 – a drop of more than 50%. This means more people in work, with the self-respect and security of a good job and a regular pay packet.
People are getting off benefits and into work across West Midlands, with 127,000 more people in work since the last election.
Overall there are now a record 30.9 million people in work, with 1.85 million more people in work since the last election. The employment rate, at 73.2 per cent is also the highest on record.
These new jobs are not insecure or poorly paid. Three quarters of new jobs since the last election are full-time, and as the new figures also confirm pay is now rising above inflation - with total pay up 2.1 per cent on the year, well ahead of inflation, which was 0.9 per cent over the period.
Following the Regional Growth Fund investment companies like Brose will be creating Jobs in Coventry so that unemployment in Coventry can continue to fall.
Gary Ridley, the Conservative Candidate in Coventry South said, ‘6591 fewer people relying on Jobseeker’s Allowance in Coventry is excellent news – and alongside the news that wages are rising faster than prices, it’s clear that the Conservatives’ long term economic plan is delivering a more financially secure future for families in our area.
Parvez Akhtar, the Conservative Candidate in Coventry North West said ‘This is happening because we’ve been working through our plan, backing businesses with better infrastructure and lower jobs taxes to create more real jobs, and fixing welfare so that work always pays. These jobs are not insecure or poorly paid. In fact three quarters of new jobs have been full-time and wages are rising. Locally we’ve seen this working with new jobs at businesses like Jaguar Landrover.’
Michelle Lowe, the Conservative Candidate in Coventry North East added ‘Voters in Coventry will have a clear choice to make in May, in the most important election we’ve had in a generation. Either we stick with the Conservatives’ plan which is delivering jobs, so more people have the self-respect and peace of mind that comes with a regular pay packet. Or all that is put at risk by the economic chaos a vote for any one of the other parties would bring.’