Gainsborough: MP Sir Edward Leigh welcomes a further fall in unemployment

Latest figures show that there are 437 fewer people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance than this time last year, while the East Midlands as a whole has seen the claimant count fall by 28,094 people.

Sir Edward Leigh said: “These statistics show a further drop in unemployment in our part of Lincolnshire.”

“These figures are more proof that our long-term economic plan is working.”

“Across the region, over 28,000 people are back in work. well over 100,000 more than at the end of the last Labour government,” he continued.

“We’ve delivered this much while stuck in coalition with the Lib Dems.”

“When voters give us a Conservative majority at the general election, we will be free to go further and deliver more savings for taxpayers and greater prosperity for the country.”

These latest figures coincided with Work Experience Week which took place from Monday 13th to Friday 17th October and it is thought that work experience placements are key to getting people straight into work.

Lynne Roome, Job Centre Plus representative for Lincolnshire, said: “This is very good news and we are really pleased that Lincolnshire is on the road to recovery in getting people into work.”

“There are a lot of reasons why the number of unemployed people has dropped. But work experience is being used very constructively.”

“Through work experience arranged by the Job Centre we are getting people straight into work.”

“We are also increasing digital skills to enable claimants to search for work online more effectively.”

“And because less people are coming through our doors, and there is no reduction in the number of our advisors, people coming in are being seen for longer if they need it and helped to get into work quicker.”

Across the whole of Lincolnshire the rate of unemployed people has fallen by 28.9 per cent since this time last year.