Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Member of Parliament for The Cotswolds, has welcomed the latest statistics released which shows the number of unemployed claimants in The Cotswolds has continued to fall.

Just 1.8% of the economically active population aged 16 to 64 is registered as unemployed claimants. This places The Cotswolds 609th highest out of the 650 UK Parliamentary Constituencies. The number of claimants in May 2013 was 46 lower than in April 2013.

Mr Clifton-Brown also welcomed the national picture, where the number of people in employment was up 24,000 from November 2012-January 2013 and was up 432,000 on the previous year, with unemployment down 5,000 from the previous quarter and down 88,000 from the same period last year.

Commenting on the fall Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said “A reduction in the number of unemployed claimants is very welcome. The number of unemployed claimants in the The Cotswolds was already at a low level and this further reduction highlights the success of innovative businesses in The Cotswolds, as well as the determination and hard working nature of local residents.

The Cotswolds is a wonderful place to live and work and is full of very exciting new businesses. It is a hugely dynamic area which attracts people from far and wide to see the delights of The Cotswolds, and this is exactly why it has one of the lowest rates of unemployment claimants in the Country.”