Employment rate in Daventry continues to be above national average

National employment is at a record rate of 74.6 per cent which means 31.85 million people are in work.

Daventry’s employment rate sits at 82.3 per cent, up 4.1 percentage points on last year.

With regards to the national unemployment rate, it fell by 34,000 this quarter, and by 106,000 on the year to 1.58 million. The rate is at its lowest for more than a decade at 4.7 per cent.

There was a national increase of 2.2 per cent on the year for average pay, including bonuses, and a 2.3 per cent increase over the year for average pay before bonuses.

However, real pay growth adjusted for inflation was 0.7 per cent which is the weakest in more than two years.

The claimant count for Daventry remains in a healthy position and although it has increased slightly on last year, the Government says this is down to the rolling out of Universal Credit.

Because the new benefit covers a broader span of claimants than just Jobseekers Allowance, an increase in the number of claims was expected.

Elsewhere in Daventry the Jobcentre held a work academy with B2W for Amazon.

Eight people went for interviews, resulting in a 75 per cent success rate as six people were hired.

The Jobcentre ran an IT course with Skillsmax as part of an initiative to help claimants who have had very little or no IT experience.

As Silvertree Environmental prepares for the opening of its plant in May or June, the Jobcentre is hoping to help with the recruitment process.

The development will comprise a biomass energy facility and a waste water treatment plant.

It will process waste food and water, and the renewable electricity produced will be used to power the treatment plant and feed into the national grid.