Newly released figures showing 130 fewer benefits claimants in Penrith and The Border compared to last year were welcomed by Dr Neil Hudson MP who praised the Government for boosting employment.
Figures show that in September 2023 there were 780 actual claimants in Penrith and The Border constituency, which was 1.6% of the population aged 16-64. The equivalent UK claimant rate was 3.7%.
This figure is down by 35 from the month before and down 130 from the year before. Unemployment claimants hit a peak in May 2020 with the pandemic at more than 2,000 and have fallen quite consistently since then.
These figures for the (unadjusted) claimant count show the number of people who were claiming unemployment related benefits. This includes those who were claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance or were claiming Universal Credit and are required to seek work.
On a national level, there are almost 33 million people employed across the UK, meaning there are almost four million more people in work since 2010 and 1.1 million more people in payrolled employment since before the pandemic.
Moreover, the Office for National Statistics confirmed this month that annual growth in regular pay (excluding bonuses) in Great Britain was 7.8% in June to August 2023, similar to recent periods and one of the highest regular annual growth rates since comparable records began in 2001. In real terms (adjusted for inflation using Consumer Prices Index including owner occupier's housing costs (CPIH)), annual growth for total pay rose on the year by 1.3%, and regular pay rose on the year by 1.1%.
Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
"The Conservative Government is working hard to give more people the security of work and deliver the jobs we need. The figures are clear - we have more people in work and fewer people claiming unemployment benefits, as well as some of the highest growth in pay since comparable records began. This Government is standing shoulder to shoulder with the UK public as the economy stabilises and grows under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s leadership.”
Sources:
House of Commons Library, Constituency data: people claiming unemployment benefits
