Dagenham and Rainham June Unemployment Figures

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Dagenham and Rainham June Unemployment Figures

The total number of unemployed claimants in Dagenham and Rainham constituency in June 2017 was 1,690. This represents a rate of 3.3% of the economically active population aged 16-64, the 175th highest of the 650 UK constituencies. (1st = highest claimant rate, 650th = lowest claimant rate.) The equivalent UK claimant rate was 2.5%.

The UK unemployment rate, which includes people not claiming benefits and is estimated from survey data, was 4.5% between March and May 2017.

The number of claimants in Dagenham and Rainham constituency is 95 higher than June 2016 and 5 lower than May 2017. There were 360 claimants aged 18-24 in June 2017, 10 higher than June 2016.

Figures are not seasonally adjusted and are rounded to the nearest five, meaning changes may be slightly over- or understated due to rounding errors. 'Unemployed claimants' include people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance or who are claiming Universal Credit and are required to seek work.

Impact of Universal Credit

Under Universal Credit, a broader span of claimants are required to look for work than under Jobseeker's Allowance. This has the effect of increasing the number of unemployed claimants. The effect is most visible in areas operating Universal Credit "Full Service" (where rollout of Universal Credit is more advanced). Most jobcentre areas have not yet moved to "Full Service" but will do so over the course of 2017 and 2018.

Dagenham and Rainham is still in the top 200 out of 650 constituencies for unemployment. However there is a lot of investment on the way. On the old Sanofi Aventis site in Dagenham East construction is currently underway on what will be the largest film studio in London. This will bring 4,000 new skilled jobs, and will also open the doors of opportunity for young people looking to embark on careers in the creative arts.

London is moving east and we now have a new university along with lots of planned investment for the future. Including a planned Costa Coffee and Travelodge to join Elutec, the Pipe Major and Londoneast-uk at Dagenham East.

Jon Cruddas MP commented: "The level of unemployed claimants has fallen this month, but there is still a lot of work to do. This number doesn't reflect the hundreds of unemployed residents not claiming JSA or the many more working on part-time and zero-hours contracts still struggling to make ends meet.

"The new film studio, the university, and other planned developments are a step in the right direction ? but as ever we need to work hard to ensure that local residents are prioritised when new employment opportunity presents itself."