Rachel Reeves, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to today’s Labour Market Statistics, said:

“Today’s fall in overall unemployment is welcome, but working people are still £1,600 a year worse off since 2010, showing the Tory plan is failing.

“After five years of David Cameron the number of people paid less than a Living Wage has risen by 44 per cent, and nearly half of all the new jobs created have been in low paid sectors. It’s five years of Tory failure on low pay.

“Labour’s better plan for working families will raise the minimum wage to at least £8 an hour before 2020, and give tax rebates to firms who pay a Living Wage. A Labour government will create more well paid and secure jobs, build more homes, extend free childcare for working families and guarantee apprenticeships for everyone who gets the grades.”

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