Maria has welcomed the new unemployment figures for September 2015. The figures state that 694 people in Basingstoke claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance in September 2015, representing a rate of 1.1% of the economically active population, trumping the 2.5% national average. The figures demonstrate a fall of 174 claimants since September last year. The number of young people who are unemployed has also fallen, with 30 fewer young people in Basingstoke out of work in September 2015 compared with July 2014. 

Maria said: “This is great news for people who want to work hard and get on in Basingstoke – we have one of the lowest levels of unemployment in the country, and I am glad that this means more people have the security of employment and a regular pay packet, so they can provide for themselves and their families.”