Claimant figures decrease in Northumberland

The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance or Universal Credit in Northumberland has dropped, new figures have revealed.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Stephen Crabb. Picture by Chris radburn/PA WireSecretary of State for Work and Pensions Stephen Crabb. Picture by Chris radburn/PA Wire
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Stephen Crabb. Picture by Chris radburn/PA Wire

Statistics released today by the Office of National Statistics show that the amount of claimants in the county has fallen by four per cent, compared to this time last year.

There has been a 17 per cent reduction in the 18 to 24 age bracket.

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Steve McCall, employer relationship manager for Jobcentre Plus, described it as good news and added that there are a range of jobs available.

The figures show that the North East employment rate is up by 20,000, year-on-year, with 1,196,000 currently in work across the region, but the unemployment rate has also risen, by 5,000, and currently stands at 103,000.

Those in employment in the UK has hit 74.2 per cent – a record high. Nationally, the unemployment rate remains at 5.1 per cent, the lowest in a decade and below recession levels.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Stephen Crabb, said: “These are another record-breaking set of figures, with more people in work than ever before and the unemployment rate is at the lowest in a decade.

“There’s good news in the North East where the number of people in work has remained near a record high with employment at 1.2 million.”