CENTRAL Devon MP Mel Stride has welcomed new figures that show employment has increased by 102,000 during the past three months reaching a new record high of 32.21 million.

The unemployment rate remains at 4.3 per cent - the lowest since 1975 with unemployment in the Central Devon constituency falling by 50 per cent since 2010.

Mr Stride, who serves as Financial Secretary to the Treasury, highlighted the fall in long-term unemployment and the highest number of job vacancies in 17 years as particularly encouraging.

He said: “These are a really positive set of employment figures showing that the UK economy remains strong and resilient.

"Our employment rate is now the highest since records began in 1971, full-time employment is also at a record high and youth unemployment is now 40 per cent lower than it was in 2010.

"It is especially good news to see long-term unemployment fall by 24,000 in the last year and the number of current job vacancies – 810,000 – is the highest in 17 years. This shows that businesses are continuing to grow and take on new staff and the high demand for labour should help drive up wages.”

The figures also showed female employment at a record high of 70.8 per cent and unemployment in the South West to be lower than the national average.

The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics, also show that unemployment is at its lowest level since 1975.

Alan Quick