CRAVEN’S MP has welcomed the latest unemployment figures.

Julian Smith says figures show that employment across the UK has reached its highest rate since records began, and that unemployment remains at its lowest level for 11 years – down over 900,000 since 2010.

He said: “It’s also great news in Yorkshire and Humber, where 200,000 more people are back in work in since 2010.”

In Skipton and Ripon, the number of people claiming the key out of work benefits has fallen by 739 a 58 per cent drop – since 2010, he said..

The figures also show wages continuing to grow strongly, the youth unemployment rate at its lowest since 2005, the rate of women in employment at a record high, and the number of disabled people in work up by nearly 600,000 over the past three years, he said..

‘This is great news for our country and for local people,” said Mr Smith.

‘It shows that our on-going welfare reforms are working – continuing to incentivise work and making sure the system is fair to all those who need it and those who pay for it.