Policies to boost participation in Thanet Labour Market essential for economic regeneration

The Labour Party in Thanet are calling for the participation levels in the local labour market to be bolstered to those of surrounding areas in Kent and the South East.

Employment rates in Thanet are 72.5%, significantly lower than Maidstone, 81.8% and Dartford, 81.3%, the two highest areas in Kent and below the South East figure of 77.3%. The figures for women follow a similar pattern. In Thanet female employment rates are 68.3%, well below Maidstone, 77.1% and Dartford, 72.8%, the two highest areas in Kent with the highest rates and below the South East at 72.5%.

Last week research published showed average earnings in Thanet were at the bottom of the Kent pay league. These latest figures showing participation levels in Kent follow a similar pattern, for example, those with the lowest average earnings are the same areas with the lowest employment rates.

Set out in the tables below are the 2016 employment rates, total and female, for the 12 council areas in Kent ranked by those with the highest rates.

Annual Population Survey – Jul 2015-Jun 2016

ONS Crown Copyright Reserved

The tables have been compiled by GMB Southern Region for Karen Constantine, Ramsgate Labour Party candidate for the Ramsgate ward for the 2017 Kent County Council elections. See notes to editors for sources and definitions.

Karen Constantine said “Low wage rates and low job opportunities are a perfect storm for the women of Thanet. This is a toxic situation where women can neither find decent job nor obtain decent wages. It means tighter household spending and ultimately it means family poverty. It’s time for central government to take coastal poverty seriously and a local plan that has sustainable economic regeneration as a priority.”

Contact: Karen Constantine on 07984 532212, Michelle Gordon on 07866 369259

Notes to Editors

1 Source: Annual Population Survey from the Office for National Statistics. Annual Population Survey is residence based and a continuous household survey covering the UK.

2 Press release from 28 October 2016

£24,150 AVERAGE EARNINGS FOR FULL TIME WORKERS RESIDENT IN THANET IS BOTTOM OF THE KENT PAY LEAGUE NEW OFFICIAL SURVEY SHOWS

Thanet’s economy needs to be thoroughly regenerated to bring to the area new well paid jobs that are part of the economy in London and other areas of the country says Labour Party candidate.

The median average pay for full-time workers resident in Thanet is £24,150 according to the new Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings published on 26 October 2016 by the Office for National Statistics.

This puts Thanet at the bottom of the average pay league for all council areas in Kent with those in Thanet earning £4,063 less than the UK average, £4,945 less than the Kent average and £9,222 less than those resident in Tonbridge and Malling.

The UK average annual earnings figure is £28,213, in London the figure is £33,776 and in Kent, £29,095.

Set out in the table below are the 2016 median annual earnings figures for the 12 council areas in Kent ranked by those with the highest median annual earnings.

The tables have been compiled by GMB Southern Region for Karen Constantine, Ramsgate Labour Party candidate for the Ramsgate ward for the 2017 Kent County Council elections. See notes to editors for sources and definitions and figures for the mean average earnings for the same areas.