Employment levels on the rise in last year in Wiltshire
Nationally unemployment levels are at their lowest in half a century
The number of workers on company payrolls in Wiltshire has risen in the last year, new figures show.
Data from the Office for National Statistics show that in Wiltshire, 226,101 people were in payrolled employment in March.
That's up from 217,608 twelve months ago.
However it is a very slight decrease from February this year.
UK unemployment has dropped to its lowest figure in 50 years.
Different figures show that across the UK, the unemployment rate hit 3.8% in the three months to February – it has not been lower than this since 1974.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said:
"The stats show the continued strength of our jobs market, with the number of employees on payrolls rising once again in March and unemployment falling further below pre-pandemic levels."
However, the ONS said real pay was now "falling noticeably", with regular wages excluding bonuses tumbling 1.8% after inflation in the three months to February, the steepest decline in almost nine years.
Labour has called on Mr Sunak to "show the leadership the country needs" amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, said the Chancellor has done little to help families in the current climate:
"By holding down pay in the public sector and cutting Universal Credit, he has made the crisis worse.
"Families need help now. Whoever is Chancellor tomorrow should go to Parliament with an emergency budget to help with surging energy bills and to get wages rising."
Separate ONS figures also show there has been a fall in the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the Wiltshire local authority area over the last year.
Around 7,485 people were on out-of-work benefits as of March 10, down by 4,660 from 12,145 at the same point the year before.
It meant 2.5% of the area's working population sought support in March.