Philip Dunne MP has welcomed latest statistics showing the number of people claiming out of work benefits in South Shropshire has fallen.

Independent figures for September 2023 from the Office for National Statistics show the number of people in South Shropshire who are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, or are claiming Universal Credit and are required to seek work, has fallen to 1,045.

Over the past year the number of claimants has fallen by 130, with South Shropshire having a claimant rate of 2.2% of the population aged 16-64. The equivalent UK claimant rate was 3.7%.

Mr Dunne said:

“With inflationary pressures still affecting household incomes, the security of a regular paypacket is more important than ever to families in South Shropshire.

“As the government continues to bear down on inflation, I am pleased we have seen unemployment fall over the past year in South Shropshire, helping to ensure more people have the stability that comes from work.”

Nationally, the figures released today show there are almost 33 million people employed across the UK, meaning there are almost four million more people in work since 2010 and 1.1 million more people in payrolled employment since before the pandemic.