The release of December’s out of work benefit claimant figures has indicated another steady drop in unemployment in Worcester and across the UK. The number of people claiming out of work benefits fell for the tenth month in a row to 4% of the working age population in Worcester.
Data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that in December 2021 there were 29.5 million employees in the UK. This is up 184,000 on the revised November 2021 level and means 409,000 are now in work than when measured against the February 2020 level. This means more people are on payrolls in all regions of the UK at a level above that of where it was before the pandemic.
The most recent figures show the number of people claiming out of work benefits in Worcester has fallen from a pandemic high of 4840 to 2575. Youth unemployment has also fallen, and now sits well below the national average.
Commenting on the good news, Robin Walker said:
“The claimant count is now a third lower than at the pandemic peak in May 2020. Not only that, but UK-wide figures are showing that with every new time the data is refreshed we are seeing that more and more people are in work in this country. This is a clear sign that our plan for jobs is working.
“I particularly welcome that fewer young people are claiming out of work benefits, with 420 18-24 year olds receiving them, a significant improvement on when I was elected in 2010.”
Sources:
Labour Market Profile - Nomis - Official Labour Market Statistics (nomisweb.co.uk)
