New figures show that unemployment across Ripon has almost halved since the peak of the recession in early 2009.
The only measure of unemployment available at a local level, like the three wards that make up the City of Ripon, is the Claimant Count. It records the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) in an area.
In the wards of Ripon Spa, Ripon Minster and Ripon Moorside, the Claimant Count rate in February 2014, the most recent data available, was 137. The figures show those out of work and claiming JSA was down a third in just one year and nearly half since 2009.
The unemployment figures come at the same time as national figures showing that Britain is growing at the joint fastest rate in the developed world and has recorded the largest quarterly increase in employment since records began.
Commenting on the figures, Ripon MP Julian Smith said:
“Ripon is bouncing back from the economic challenges of recent years and I’m delighted that unemployment has nearly halved in five years and fallen so dramatically in the past 12 months.
“This is thanks to the City’s brilliant businesses, who are creating new jobs and taking risks to boost the economy. I want to see unemployment keep falling, so we have to stick to our long-term plan so businesses can keep creating opportunities for hardworking people.”