Dagenham and Rainham November Unemployment Statistics

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Dagenham and Rainham November Unemployment Statistics

The total number of unemployed claimants in Dagenham and Rainham constituency in November 2016 was 1,635. This represents a rate of 3.3% of the economically active population aged 16 to 64, the 162nd highest of the 650 UK constituencies. (1st = highest claimant rate, 650th = lowest claimant rate.) The equivalent UK claimant rate was 2.4%.

This includes 1,162 people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and 473 people claiming Universal Credit who were required to seek work.

The total number of claimants (both Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit) is 74 higher than in November 2015 and 15 higher than in October 2016.

There were 385 claimants aged 18-24 in Dagenham and Rainham constituency in November 2016, 30 higher than in November 2015. (Figures for 18-24 year olds are rounded to the nearest 5.) These data are not seasonally adjusted.

Dagenham and Rainham is still in the top 200 out of 650 constituencies for unemployment. In the last few months unemployment has slowly but consistently risen, there is a lot of work to be done. Many are still underpaid and employed on zero hour contracts, which is something the trade unions and Jon Cruddas MP are working hard to address locally.

We have to tackle the problem of underemployment both nationally and locally; the TUC estimate that over a million workers are undertaking part time work as full time work is not available. This has led to many individuals and families being left in fuel and food poverty, which is not only a national issue but a local one as well.

There is a lot of investment on its way in the New Year on the old Sanofi site now directed by Londoneast-UK. The business and technical park already boasts Elutec technical and engineering college, and in the New Year deals are currently being made for a Costa Coffee and a Travelodge. This will bring with it new jobs, and is set to increase the economic growth in the area.

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham has also just secured a £12 million plot of land to begin development of a new state of the art film studio in the constituency which will bring even more opportunity.

MP Jon Cruddas says: "Over the last few years the number of JSA claimants has consistently dropped in Dagenham and Rainham, but now we are seeing a spike in the statistics. This highlights that there are still issues which need to be addressed, and one of those is that we need more local jobs for local people.

"Many people across Dagenham & Rainham are in part-time work or are employed on zero-hours contracts, meaning that they are no longer entitled to JSA but do not have the security of a standardised wage coming in on a regular basis. There are deep issues in the current employment market and the Tories revealed in their Autumn Statement that their ?long term economic plan' had failed.

"I'm seeing more and more local residents coming to my advice surgeries that are in employment but are still in great need of help. This shambolic Tory government is failing the people of Dagenham & Rainham, and I will continue to do all I can in parliament to affect change on a national and local level, bringing investment, jobs and growth."