Romford MP hails high employment figures in the town and the UK

Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell has welcomed the latest figures showing employment across the UK reaching its highest rate since records began.

The Romford MP has hailed the “great news” with unemployment at its lowest level for 11 years – down over 900,000 since 2010.

In Romford, the number of people claiming the key out of work benefits has fallen by 1119 – a 52 per cent drop since 2010.

The number of Britons in work grew by 37,000 sequentially in the three months to December.

Romford MP Andrew Rosindell said: “This is great news for our country and for local people, with the number of people in Romford relying on the key out of work benefits down 52 per cent since 2010, while the employment level nationwide has hit a record high.

“It shows that our ongoing welfare reforms are working – continuing to incentivise work and making sure the system is fair to all those who need it and those who pay for it.

“Conservatives have made real progress creating a strong economy and helping people into work, and we will continue that work as we build a country that works for everyone – with more people sharing in our country’s prosperity”.

However, the rise in employment has been balanced by wage growth easing.

Economist James Smith at financial services group ING described the fall in wage growth as “alarming”.

The latest figures show average earnings, including bonuses, rose 2.6pc year-on-year in the December quarter after a 2.8pc gain in the previous three months.

It is the first time since July 2016 that pay growth has slowed.