Unemployment in East Cambs is falling, with just 30 young people out of work
Job Centre. - Credit: Archant
Unemployment in East Cambridgeshire fell by almost a third from April 2015 to March 2016 thanks to “buoyancy and growth”.
The number of people without work in Ely dropped by 27 per cent in that time frame.
The latest official labour market statistics from Nomis reveal that there is currently a 3.3 per cent unemployment rate in East Cambs. This is compared to the national average of 5.1 per cent which is stated in the report based on figures from April 2015 to March 2016.
“Ely has a really strong and buoyant labour market as well as a great transport network,” said Julia Nix, district manager for East Anglia Job Centre Plus.
“People can travel to London, Cambridge or Peterborough very easily.
“If you want a job in Ely during this time of year you will get one,” she added, citing agriculture as a popular occupation.”
Out of the 1,500 people not in work, just 30 of them are young people.
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“With the new cinema complex, for example, once built it could easily take all of those 30 young people looking for work,” said Mrs Nix.
To further increase employment in the area, the job centre has introduced ‘job clubs’.
“Individuals come in every day and are given help and support by staff, employers and other specialists.
“They come in and hold mock interviews, give advice about getting into work and deliver training exercises.
“Individuals are then assigned their own work coaches who support them until they get back into work,” she said of the centre’s new ‘personalised journey’ initiative.
The report also states that 10.1 per cent of the East Cambs and Fenland populous have no qualifications. This is compared to the national average of 1.5 per cent.
It also suggests that there is still a wide pay gap between male and females in East Cambs; men receive an average of £499.50 per week whereas women get £474.40. This means women are paid around £25.10 less than men per week.
In terms of hourly pay, men get 83 pence more on average.
In relation to weekly wages, full-time workers in East Cambridgeshire receive a gross pay of £496 per week compared to the national average of £529 - East Cambs workers are paid £33 less than the GB average.
