Worcester MP Robin Walker is delighted to see that the number of those claiming benefits within the Worcester constituency, and across the UK, continues to fall.
The claimant count is a figure which measures those claiming benefits for the principal reason of being unemployed, and its calculation is administered by the Office for National Statistics. As such, Robin is encouraged to see the number gradually decrease over since December 2021, for this indicates decreasing unemployment levels.
As of December 2022, only 3.9% of 18–24-year-olds claimed unemployment related benefits, which compares favourably to the equivalent rate of 4.6% within the UK. The number of claimants aged 16-64 also sat confidently at the UK equivalent rate of 3.7%.
Indeed, the number of people claiming on benefits has also fallen by 175 people over the past year, which is a promising start to 2023. Similarly, in December 2021, the claimant count was 4.0% for the working age population of Worcester, and so Robin is encouraged that this has since fallen to 3.7% over the course of 2022.
Note to editors
For the latest job statistics for Worcester, see:
Labour Market Profile - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics (nomisweb.co.uk)
For Robin’s previous commentary on the Worcester unemployment, see:
Unemployment figures continues to fall in Worcester | Robin Walker (walker4worcester.com)
Data shows further falls in Worcester unemployment | Robin Walker (walker4worcester.com)