Staffordshire starts 2019 with continued near full employment
Posted on Tuesday 22nd January 2019
i54 South Staffordshire expansion
Foundations are being laid for more job creation in Staffordshire’s key industry sectors as the county starts 2019 with continued near full employment.
Latest figures released today show that just 1.3 per cent of Staffordshire residents claimed out of work benefits in December. This is lower than both regional (3 per cent) and national (2.3 per cent) figures. The Staffordshire figure has remained the same for the last three months.
Staffordshire County Council’s economic growth leader Mark Winnington said it had been an encouraging start to the new year and followed last week’s approval of the western extension to the i54 South Staffordshire business park.
Mark added:
"We have started the new year with planning approval of the i54 South Staffordshire western extension which will see the generation of up to 1,700 jobs and £300 million investment.
This will support our drive for better paid, higher skilled jobs in Staffordshire and release up to £3 million a year in business rates – essential in funding our public services going forward.
Half of the 2,700 people working on the current i54 site live within a 10-mile radius so this really will make a difference. With other county sites like Four Ashes in South Staffordshire and Redhill in Stafford nearing full occupancy and more major projects getting off the ground, we are confident of continued long-term growth, increased investment and employment opportunities as the year progresses.”