I have welcomed new figures showing that there are 47,330 fewer children in workless households in the South East since 2010. The number of children living in households with no one working is at a record low, meaning fewer children are living in families without the security of work. Since last year, 29,000 fewer children across the United Kingdom are living in workless households.
Overall across Britain the number of workless households is down 964,000 since 2010, with the proportion of workless households now at its lowest level since records began in 1996. The fall over the last year was 11,000.
I said:
"It's excellent to see the number of children in workless households falling – with 47,330 fewer across the South-East since 2010. This means more children in families with the security that comes with a good job and a regular pay packet.
"This is further evidence that the Conservatives' reforms to welfare and support for business to create more jobs, as part of our work to build a stronger economy, is working.
"We are working hard to build a stronger and fairer economy - delivering a brighter, more secure future for families in the Henley constituency – but there is more to do. That is why we are investing in a modern Industrial Strategy to build a country that works for everyone. "
Notes
Headline national figures
- The number of workless households has fallen 11,000 over the last year, and 964,000 since 2010. The number of workless households - households where no one of working-age is in work - has fallen to 3.0 million in April-June 2018 compared to 4.0 million in April-June 2010 (ONS, Working and Workless Households, 29 August 2018, link).
- The number of children in a workless household is at a record low. Since 2010 there are 637,000 fewer children living in a workless household. (ONS, Working and Workless Households, 29 August 2018, link).
- There are now 32.4 million people in work – with employment up 3.3 million since 2010 (ONS, Labour Market Statistics, 14 August 2018, link).
- Unemployment is at a 43-year low at 1.36 million, down by 1.15 million since 2010. (ONS, Labour Market Statistics, 14 August 2018, link).
- Youth unemployment is down by 447,000 since 2010. (ONS, Labour Market Statistics, 14 August 2018, link). There were 40 claimants in the Henley constituency aged 18-24 in May 2018
- The growth in wages is higher than inflation by 0.4 per cent (ONS, Labour Market Statistics, 14 August 2018, link).
