UNEMPLOYMENT levels in Stratford are the lowest in the country.
MP Nadhim Zahawi welcomed the news as he made the announcement at the Pride of Stratford awards.
And he is now pledging to do all he can to help keep the numbers down in the future.
According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics and the Department for Work and Pension, just 179 people have been seeking work in the district over the past 12 months.
This measure of unemployment – known as the claimant count – takes into account the number of people aged between 16 and 64 who are either claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, or are out of work and claiming Universal Credit.
It equates to an overall unemployment rate of just 0.4 per cent, and means Stratford has the lowest rate of the 650 constituencies across the UK.
The district also faired well in its youth unemployment levels with just 30 people aged 18 to 24 seeking work compared to 40 in the previous year.
Speaking to The Observer, Mr Zahawi admitted he was ‘very proud’ of the figures and in particular, of the youth unemployment rates.
He said: “It goes to show how many great businesses there are in the local area, how hard local residents work, and the great products and services they produce together.
“It’s so important to get young people into work, and we should pay tribute to the excellent work of our schools and colleges, as well as the businesses willing to give young people a chance to shine.
“Despite already having low unemployment, the rate has still fallen by more than a quarter in the last 12 months, and it’s this continued success which is really impressive.”
But the Conservative MP, who is also the Prime Minister’s adviser on apprentices, was keen to stress he would not be resting on his laurels.
He added: “The job is never finished. We have to continue to work hard and ensure every person has the opportunity to take good, well-paid work.
“I will carry on supporting the national policies necessary to create a world-leading environment in which to do business and I will continue to work closely with businesses of all kinds in the constituency to help them thrive and make Stratford greater still.”
