Blackpool's Resort's jobless rate has risen

Unemployment nationally has fallen to its lowest since the summer of 1975, with a record number in work.

But the jobs boom has also seen a record number of workers on zero-hours contracts in their main job.

Blackpool South Labour MP Gordon Mardsen said youth unemployment in his area was up from 6.2 per cent to 6.5 per cent while both nationally and in the North West it was down. Overall, Blackpool’s rate rose from 6 per cent to 6.6 per cent while nationally it was 2.5 per cent.

He said: “Sadly, we are moving further away from the national picture.”

He also criticised the increase in zero hours contracts which he said offered no job security and were no substitute for full time, well paid, jobs with career prospects. But Blackpool North MP Paul Maynard said: “The United Kingdom has not seen these levels of unemployment since 1975 and we have half the number unemployed now than when Gordon Brown was Prime Minister. Real wages continue to grow with pay up 2.2 per cent.

“The challenge locally is how we tap in to the national picture, the council has questions to answer on how it looks at job creation and supporting business.”