The D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership has welcomed a growth in employment in the East Midlands and a sharp drop in unemployment – compared to this time last year – revealed in an Office for National Statistics’ quarterly report published today (June 17).
The latest ONS ‘Regional Labour Market’ figures, published quarterly, cover February to April (2015), and compare with the same three-month period in 2014 and in 2013.
For the East Midlands’ working age population (those aged 16 to 64), the new figures show a drop in unemployment; from 139,000 between February to April, 2014, to 114,000 in February to April, 2015 – a reduction of 17.8%.
Those classed as ‘in employment’ in the new ONS tables rose from 2,125,000 in February to April, 2014, to 2,154,000 for the three-month period this year; a change over the year of 1.4%.
The employment rate for the East Midlands for the latest quarter was 74.4% (0.4% up on the previous quarter). This was the fourth highest rate (jointly with Scotland’s) – compared with that of the nine English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – and higher than the UK average employment rate of 73.4%.
David Ralph, Chief Executive of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said: “This is good news for the D2N2 area and the wider East Midlands. A steady rise in those in employment and an even steeper decline in unemployment, shows that the region is continuing to prove an engine for growth in the UK.”
The D2N2 LEP is a private-sector led partnership between business, local authorities, skills and training providers, and the voluntary sector which promotes economic growth and jobs creation in the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire area.
For further information about D2N2’s work go to website www.d2n2lep.org
To view the report, visit http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-labour/regional-labour-market-statistics/june-2015/stb–regional-labour-market–june-2015.html
