‘The country needs Crawley!’
UNEMPLOYMENT dropped by more than 2 per cent in Crawley while soaring elsewhere – prompting MP Henry Smith to joke that the country needs our town.
The latest figures show joblessness standing at 6.2 per cent, down from 8.4 per cent in the previous year; while the overall national proportion for both years is at 7.7 per cent.
The short-term figures show an even starker contrast – 3.8 per cent currently jobless in Crawley compared to 8.4 per cent nationally.
Crawley MP Henry Smith said: “Cautiously I welcome the further fall in unemployment in Crawley to 3.8 per cent.
“For those 3.8 per cent, however, it is 100 per cent of a problem. The hundreds of new jobs coming to the borough are needed.
“Part of the reason Crawley fairs relatively better in the current global economic crisis is our location – Gatwick Airport and other major transport links in close proximity to London.
“However, it is also down to local residents strong sense of community and can-do spirit which make us great people to employ.
“We are the economic engine of West Sussex and Surrey which is good for the wider economy and other communities. As the heart of the South East I think we can help power the rest of the UK to recovery. I only half-joke when I say the country needs Crawley!”
Labour councillor Chris Oxlade said: “We’re incredibly lucky in Crawley that we always buck the trend in unemployment, but young people claiming benefits up to the age of 24 has gone up by 100 per cent in the last year.
“The coalition Government aren’t doing nearly enough to help the long-term unemployed. Everything from cutting EMA (educational maintenance allowance), to tripling university fees has given Crawley a lost generation when it comes to finding employment.”
Jeremy Taylor, chair of Gatwick Diamond Business Association, said: “We’re in a very strong position and it’s good to see Crawley and the Gatwick diamond area has lower than national unemployment.
“With more jobs coming to Crawley this area runs the risk of over-heating – but what a fantastic position to be in.
“I don’t think we should ever stop competing with the rest of the county because the downside is we get far less support than the rest of the country.
“We need the south east to be successful because this area finds the taxes that fund the rest of the country. Other parts of the country should be celebrating our success.”
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Weather for Crawley
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
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Wind direction: East
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