New figures out this week show unemployment has continued to fall across the Burnham-On-Sea area.
Data provided by the House of Commons Library shows the number of people in the Wells constituency – which includes Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge – claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance in February was 739, which is a fall of 33.7 percent compared to the same month in 2014 when the number stood at 1,115.
Among 18-24 year olds, the number of claimants was 180, down by 105 year-on-year, representing a fall of 36.8 percent. And among those aged over 50, there was a fall of 17.4 percent – with 190 claimants, a reduction of 40.
Burnham’s MP Tessa Munt said they are “brilliant figures”. She added: “They are very welcome local figures, particularly coming out of the tourist season, that show the underlying economy is sure-footed.”
James Heappey, the Conservatives election candidate, welcomed the news, saying: “This is more good economic news for our area with unemployment now down by 52 percent since 2010 and wages rising above inflation, which is now down to zero. But the job is not yet done and a change of government could see our economy take a turn for the worse.”
Earnings are continuing to rise above inflation, with data showing that average weekly total pay (excluding bonuses) rose by 1.6 percent, compared to the same month in 2014.
