Thank you Echo for your good-news story on the unemployment rate: one of the lowest in the UK [26 March]. There are lots of positives here.

But what are the facts behind these figures?

How many of these jobs are permanent?

How many of these jobs are full-time? How many of these jobs are worked on a zero-hours contract? How far have local employers been able to shape the skills and learning of their future workforce?

Many people already in employment want to move from a part-time to a full-time position, but can’t get the hours.

Those working on a zero-hours contract never know from one day to the next when they will be working. They are required to be available to the same employer all week, but can be told at a moment’s notice that they’re not needed on the day. You can turn up for work only to be told you’re not needed.

Or even wait around to find out if you are needed, only then to be sent home.

How are you supposed to budget on that?

How are you supposed to provide for a family? Pay your rent? Save for a deposit on a home?

Under this government, the number of those who are in work and who qualify for benefits has overtaken the number of those out of work who qualify for benefits.

That’s the taxes that you and I pay subsidising this low-wage, low-skills economy.

We need more jobs, better skilled jobs, better paid jobs. It’s good for business and it’s good for the economy.

I back the CBI's call to go further with business rates reform : "The current business rates system is clunky, outdated and holds back the high street.”

Cllr Lucy Hamilton

Portland Road

Weymouth