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Largest fall in
unemployment since records began
UNEMPLOYMENT has seen the
largest annual fall since records began over 40 years ago. The
number of unemployed people is now below 2 million for the first
time since 2008, figures published today by the Office for National
Statistics (ONS) show.
In the largest annual fall since the 1970s; when Donny Osmond
topped the charts with 'Puppy Love' - there are now over half a
million fewer unemployed people than there were a year ago. The
unemployment rate has also fallen again; to 6%; a new 6 year low.
This compares to an unemployment rate of 7.7% just a year ago. Over
the last year every single region and nation in the UK has seen a
fall in unemployment.
There are now a record 30.76 million people in work. Compared to
2010 there are over 2 million more people in private sector jobs;
more than the total number of people currently unemployed; showing
that the Government's long-term economic plan to create jobs by
backing businesses is working.
Employment Minister Esther McVey said:- "All of our reforms
are focussed on helping people into work and today's record figures
show that the Government's long term economic plan to help
businesses create jobs and get people working again is proving
successful.
Behind the record figures there are countless individual stories of
people turning their lives around, of families who are now feeling
more secure with a regular wage, and of young people escaping
unemployment and building a career.
We know there is always more to do, which is why it is vital to
stick to delivering a plan for full employment that's creating
growth and jobs."
Schemes like the Government's Work Programme have contributed to the
largest drop in long term unemployment since 1998 - falling by
194,000 on the year. The number of people on Jobseeker's Allowance
fell for the 23rd month in a row, with over 540,000 fewer people who
are signing-on than in 2010.
Young People
Young people (18 to 24) saw the largest annual fall in unemployment
since records began; falling by over a quarter of a million since
last year. Excluding those in full time education, there are now
468,000 unemployed young people. This is down by nearly a third
compared to last year and lower than just before the recession.
The number of young people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell
again, for the 34th month in a row. There are now fewer young JSA
claimants than at any time in 2 generations; having dropped by
123,000 in the past year.
Women
There are record numbers of women in work with the UK having seen
the fastest growth in the number of women in work in the last year
out of all G7 economies. Of those women working part-time, nearly
90% have chosen to work part time because it suits them. The
proportion of women working part time who want full-time work
(12.6%) is falling, down 41,000 over the last year.
International Comparisons
Over the last year the UK has seen the largest growth in employment
and the largest fall in unemployment in the G7.
Vacancies
Job vacancies rose again, up 130,000 over the past year bringing the
number of vacancies in the UK economy to 674,000.
Wages
Wages excluding bonuses were up 0.9% on the year, with private
sector wages rising faster - at 1.2% - than the public sector. The
financial services sector saw bonuses fall by 5%.
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Housing partners
identify first sites
THE first of many sites
which will eventually deliver 1,500 new homes and bring a further
1,000 back into use in Liverpool have been agreed.
Earlier this year, the City Council announced a new partnership with
affordable housing provider Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH), private
developer Redrow Homes and property contractor Wilmott Dixon to
drive up the range and quality of properties in the City.
Under the plan, Redrow Homes and LMH will jointly build 1,500 new
homes and LMH aims to bring up to 1,000 back into use as part of a
£205 million investment over the next five years.
A list of five sites and properties which, subject to consultation
with the local community and planning approval, will deliver around
200 new and refurbished properties for the first phase, has been
approved.
The first 5 sites are:-
New homes
► Watergate School in Woolton (site of the former Sunflower Centre)
– approximately 25 houses for owner occupied market sales
► Part of the original Holly Lodge School in West Derby –
approximately 70 houses/apartments for owner occupied market sales
and refurbished Grade II lodges with wildlife features preserved
► Leighton Dene Day Care Centre in Norris Green – more than 20
properties for affordable rent
Refurbishments
► Marwood Tower in Everton – around 60 units for over 55s and more
than 20 new apartments for affordable rent around the site boundary
► Normanton Avenue in St Michael's – around eight self-contained
apartments for affordable rent
Assistant Mayor and Cabinet member for Housing, Councillor Ann
O'Byrne, said:- "This is just the start of a five year
programme which will deliver new and refurbished properties across
the City, offering a greater range and quality of homes for our
residents.
This new partnership is playing a major part in the on-going
transformation of housing, and build on the fantastic momentum we've
created in recent years.
We are working together to drive forward some really important
schemes which will breathe new life into communities and wherever
possible we are using brownfield sites which have existing
developments on them.
We are already on target to exceed the Mayor's target of building
5,000 new homes in Liverpool by 2016 and bringing 1,000 back into
use, and the partnership is enabling us to do even more."
Redrow and LMH are now surveying the properties and land to produce
plans to show how the houses will look and how the new residential
area will be designed.
After consultation with the local community, the plans will be
submitted for planning consent, with the partnership targeting next
spring for their 1st start on site.
Director of Assets at LMH, Maggi Howard, said:- "The
identification of sites to kick start this programme is great news
for Liverpool. LMH is now focusing on drawing up plans so projects
can start on site early in 2015."
Redrow Homes local managing director Steve Greenhalgh, said:-
"This latest step brings us closer to delivering the new homes the
City needs. Subject to planning permission we're hopeful that the
first project could be ready to start shortly and that, together
with the rest of the partners, we will then be able to deliver a
rolling programme of developments across the City. The beauty
of this partnership approach is the way it combines new-build with
refurbishment of empty homes and will provide housing of all types
from affordable properties through to large executive homes." |
