Unemployed Claimant Count August 2021

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Unemployed Claimant Count August 2021

The number of unemployed claimants in Dagenham and Rainham constituency in August 2021 was 5,775. This represents a rate of 8.2% of the economically active population aged 16 to 64. The equivalent UK claimant rate was 5.2%.

There are 145 less claimants than in July 2021 and there are 3,040 more claimants than in March 2020 before the UK lockdown began. Note the majority of this increase happed in March-May 2020 at the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

There were 910 claimants aged 18-24 in August 2021, 60 lower than July 2021 and 435 higher than March 2020.

As part of the government's response to coronavirus (COVID-19), a number of enhancements were introduced to Universal Credit. These may have increased the number of employed people who are eligible for unemployment-related benefits.

Whilst some of the increase in the Claimant Count will be due to people who have become unemployed, some will also be due to employed people who have become eligible for Universal Credit as part of the government response.

Figures are not seasonally adjusted and are rounded to the nearest five. "Unemployed claimants" include people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance or who are claiming Universal Credit and are required to seek work.

Long term trends

The unadjusted claimant count is currently not a good indicator of long- term trends in the number of people looking for work. It does however provide us with a measure of how the number of claimants has changed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The adjusted alternative claimant count is updated on a quarterly basis.

The ongoing impact of coronavirus on Universal Credit

Under Universal Credit, a broader spectrum of people are required to look for work than under Jobseeker's Allowance. This has the effect of increasing the number of unemployed claimants. In addition to this, as part of the government's response to Coronavirus (COVID-19), a number of enhancements were introduced to Universal Credit. Consequently, whilst some of the increase in the unemployed claimant count will be due to people who have become unemployed, some will also be due to employed people who have become eligible for Universal Credit as part of the government response to Coronavirus.

Jon Cruddas MP:"Whilst furlough and the pandemic are still reflected in the figures, the fall in numbers from July to August is a positive sign that people are getting back into work locally. However, we will be in a better position to judge the impact of the pandemic on local jobs when the furlough scheme comes to an end this month. When that happens I will be working alongside local service providers, the local authority, business community and voluntary sector to ensure that the negative impact on local people is limited."