Unemployment continued to decline in South Staffordshire, in the month leading to May 2014, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics.
The number of claimants went down by 59 (a monthly change of over five percent) to 1,022, or 2.2 percent of all economically active 16-64 year old residents.
This was a drop of 467 claimants (an annual change of 31 percent) on May 2013 and a fall of 667 claimants (a change of almost 40 percent) since the general election, in May 2010.
Furthermore, unemployment in South Staffordshire, last month, was nearly half that of the West Midlands average of 4.3 percent.
On the figures, Gavin said: “It’s great news there are now 467 fewer people on JSA in South Staffordshire than there were last year. That’s 467 people no longer needing benefits to get by, with a more secure, brighter future ahead of them.
“Unemployment in South Staffordshire remains well below the regional - and national - average. I have no doubt that it is largely due to the continued success of our many local businesses, which are employing an increasing number of people in the area. I will continue to work hard to see that South Staffordshire wins the business investment that it deserves and to ensure that our local people are receiving the appropriate training to fill these jobs.”