Employment continues to rise across the region

The number of people in work in the East Midlands continues to rise despite fears that the outcome of the EU-Referendum might have caused massive job losses.

Figures released this morning by the Office of National Statistics showed that there were 2,296,242 people in work in the region in the three months to the end of July – 25,957 higher than the previous quarter, 26,462 better than a year earlier and 88,987 higher than two years ago.

The number of people unemployed fell to 102,104 for the quarter to the end of July – 4,126 lower than the previous quarter, 8,872 down on the previous year and 28,417 lower than two years previously.

The unemployment rate for the region dropped to 4.3%, down from 4.5% in the previous quarter and remains well below the 4.9% national level.

And the number of people claiming jobseekers allowance in August stayed the same in comparison to last months figures in Chesterfield

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive at East Midlands Chamber, said:-

“Reports from the recruitment sector since the EU-Referendum had suggested a slump, which makes today’s figures even more positive than might have been expected.

“Far from being negative, these figures show continued confidence from business across virtually the whole region and all sectors and are probably one of the best indicators to date that despite the vote to leave the EU nothing has actually happened yet to the detriment of business.

“Businesses across the East Midlands continue to be the drivers of the regional economy and, by default, the national economy. We make things here in the East Midlands and ship them all over the world, not just to the EU, and we will continue to do so long after we leave the EU.”