Low unemployment rates and resilient businesses have propelled the district to the forefront of the county’s economic recovery according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which published its bi-monthly report on Friday.

EAST Cambridgeshire is continuing to thrive despite the gloomy economic outlook, figures published this week show.

Low unemployment rates and resilient businesses have propelled the district to the forefront of the county’s economic recovery according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which published its bi-monthly report on Friday.

The news was welcomed by council business champion, Ron Bradney: “It comes as no surprise to me that our employment rates are so high. In East Cambridgeshire, we have fought our way through recession and now stands ready to lead the economic recovery of the region.

“The important thing is not to rest on our laurels - we must kick on as a district by giving help and support to start ups and help more established companies to grow and prosper.”

According to the ONS figures, 81.7 per cent of people aged between 16 and 64 in East Cambridgeshire are employed, the highest rate in Cambridgeshire and far in excess of the Eastern region average of 73.5 per cent.

Men in particular are benefiting, with 90.7 per cent of the district’s working-age males in employment, leading the way in Cambridgeshire and second only to Hertfordshire in the entire UK.

The number of people claiming job seeker’s allowance in the district was recorded at 1187 by the ONS, a figure which has seen no significant increase for more than a year and is among the lowest in the country.

The level of economic inactivity, people who are not eligible to work, among the distict’s estimated 53’000 people came in at just 14.2 per cent, the lowest rate in the Eastern region.