Low unemployment figures only tell half the story

12.00.00am GMT Wed 22nd Oct 2008

MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, Tim Farron welcomed figures revealed by the Office of National Statistics that placed Westmorland and Lonsdale with the lowest unemployment figures in England.

Residence based unemployment in the constituency was recorded at 0.7% for the last year-four times lower than the rest of the region.

Commenting Mr Farron said:

"This announcement is great news for our local economy, but only tells half the story.

"The South Lakes has a large elderly population which isn't accounted for.

"Furthermore, although unemployment is low; wages are even lower as the South Lakes employs a higher percentage of seasonal workers than most other places in the region."