Mark Pawsey MP (centre right) meets with Jim Griffin, Managing Director of growing local business Automotive Insulations (far right) and his team.
Local MP Mark Pawsey has welcomed recent figures showing that 151,000 more people are in work across the West Midlands since 2010 and a record level of employment across the UK as a whole. In total, over 2.3 million more people have the security of a job than in 2010.
Locally, in Rugby and Bulkington, the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit whilst not in employment has fallen by 924, a decrease of 57% since May 2010.
The figures also show that wages are continuing to grow strongly, with average total pay up 2%, while inflation remains close to flat. This means local people across Rugby and Bulkington are seeing their wages grow demonstrating the success of the Government’s plan to create a higher-employment and higher-wage economy.
Speaking about the recently released figures, Mark said:
“The prospects for Rugby’s future are very positive. Since May 2010, we’ve seen unemployment fall locally by almost 60 percent and the town is continuing to grow and develop. We have also seen wages go up in the last couple of years, meaning there is more money in the pockets of hard working people.”
Mark continued:
“I firmly believe that in the coming years we can continue to build on our local strengths. One of our great assets is our location; we are very much at the heart of the country and at the heart of the economic recovery. It is thanks to our location that we are seeing businesses like myHermes choose to invest here creating over 200 new jobs.”
Mark concluded:
“Our economy continues to go from strength to strength which is positive news for Rugby and for the country. There has been significant growth, and investment, in our local economy in recent years and we now have a strong mix of retail, logistics and manufacturing. I am confident that this growth will continue in the years to come creating more jobs and opportunities for local people.”