UNEMPLOYMENT levels in Chelmsford have plummeted a third in the past year, new statistics reveal.
Over the past month 173 people in the Chelmsford area found work, leaving 1,637 still jobless – the lowest since May 2010.
Chelmsford MP Simon Burns said: "Under George Osborne's long term economic plan we have seen unemployment in Chelmsford falling dramatically. In the last year alone, unemployment in the Chelmsford constituency has fallen by 606 people to 1,353 people. This represents a 30.9 per cent drop in unemployment.
"Just as important, unemployment for young people, those between the ages of 18-24 has fallen even more dramatically, 190 people to 335.
"This represents a 36.2 per cent drop. For those aged 50 and over, there has been a 27.3 per cent fall – by 105 people to 280.
"The long-term unemployed, those claiming for over 12 months, there has been a 33.3 per cent fall with the figures coming down by 156 people to 330 people.
"Obviously, this is very good news but more work needs to be done to get the figures lower and to get more people in Chelmsford into employment.
"For those who advocate abandoning the long-term economic plan, which has worked so well in bringing down unemployment, restoring growth to our economy, and reducing inflation, I can only imagine that they believe in voodoo economics."
