Brighton MP welcomes latest jobs and unemployment figures

Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby has welcomed the latest unemployment and jobs data, saying that more people were in work than ever before.

Mr Kirby, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said that in his constituency the number of people claiming key out-of-work benefits has fallen by 1,196 – or 53 per cent – since 2010.

The latest figures were released by the Office for National Statistics today (Wednesday 17 August).

Out-of-work benefits were claimed by 1,040 people – 645 men and 395 women – in the Brighton Kemptown parliamentary constituency.

The July number was up 20 on the 1,020 figure for June but was still one of the lowest tallies for years.

The number of young people – from 18 to 24 years old – claiming out-of-work benefits last month stood at 230. Of those 140 were 18 to 21 years old.

The claimant count rate was 1.7 per cent, compared with a south east figure of 1.1 per cent and a national rate of 1.8 per cent.

The number of unemployed adults, among economically active people from 16 to 64 years old, in the Brighton Kemptown parliamentary constituency stood at 5,200 in the year to the end of March. This was down from 5,300 in the year to the end of last December which was the highest figure for at least 10 years.

The figure of 5,200 represents 11.1 per cent of the economically active over 16s in the area, compared with 4.1 per cent in the south east and 5.1 nationally.

Mr Kirby said that he “welcomed today’s record-breaking figures showing that there are more people in work than ever before, with 320,000 more people in work across the South East”.

The Conservative MP said: “Since 2010 there are over 2.7 million more people across the United Kingdom in work, meaning that more families in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven have the security of a regular pay packet.

“These figures show that the record high employment rate has been fuelled by full-time work, which has accounted for three quarters of the employment growth since 2010, and that average wages grew by 2.4 per cent over the last year.

“Today’s figures show that employment is growing across all the regions and nations of the United Kingdom as we build a Britain that works for everyone not just the privileged few.

“The number of people in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven relying on the key out-of-work benefits has fallen by 1,196 since 2010 – a 53 per cent drop.

“Nevertheless, we aren’t complacent which is why we’re pressing ahead with welfare reforms like universal credit making sure that it always pays for people to be in work.

Wealth

“With the employment rate at a record high, the unemployment rate at its lowest level in over 10 years and wages up while inflation has remained low, we are making sure that everyone can share in the country’s wealth.”

In the area served by Brighton and Hove City Council out-of-work benefits were claimed by 2,770 people – 1,755 men and 1,015 women – in July.

The claimant count rate was 1.4 per cent, compared with 1.1 per cent for the south east and 1.8 per cent nationally.

The number of young people – from 18 to 24 years old – claiming out-of-work benefits stood at 560. Of those 320 were 18 to 21 years old.

Last month the claimant count stood at 2,765, also 1.4 per cent. A year earlier the figure was 2,980, or 1.5 per cent. It has halved in just over three years.

The number of unemployed adults – economically active 16 to 64-year-olds – in the area served by the council rose to 9,400 in the year to the end of March.

The figures, released quarterly, showed a rise from 8,900 in the year to the end of December 2015. The number was the highest since the year to the end of December 2014 when the figure was 9,800.

The model-based figure represents 6.1 per cent of the economically active 16 to 64-year-olds in the area served by the council. It compares with a south east figure of 4.1 per cent and a national figure of 5.1 per cent.

Incapacity

The latest figures for those claiming incapacity benefit or employment and support allowance – a benefit for people with an illness, health condition or disability that makes it difficult or impossible to work – totalled 12,870.

The figure – for February – compared with the previous total of 12,960 for November. It was the lowest figure since May 2014.

In the Hove parliamentary constituency 990 people claimed out-of-work benefits – 635 men and 355 women – down from a total of 995. Of those 180 were young people – from 18 to 24 years old – and of those 105 were 18 to 21 years old.

The claimant count rate was 1.4 per cent of the economically active population which consists of 16 to 64-year-olds. It was worse than the 1.1 per cent rate for the south east and better than the 1.8 per cent rate nationally.

And out-of-work benefits were claimed by 910 people – 585 men and 325 women – in the Brighton Pavilion parliamentary constituency.

The July number was down slightly from the 915 figure for June and was the lowest number for years. It was the tenth month in a row that the total came in at under a thousand.

The number of young people – from 18 to 24 years old – claiming out-of-work benefits last month stood at 185. Of those 95 were 18 to 21 years old.

The claimant count rate was 1.1 per cent, compared with a south east figure of 1.1 per cent and a national rate of 1.8 per cent.

The number of unemployed adults – economically active 16 to 64-year-olds – in the Brighton Pavilion parliamentary constituency stood at 4,100 in the year to the end of March. This was up from 3,900 in the year to the end of last December.

The latest figure represents 6 per cent of the economically active over 16s in the area, compared with 4.1 per cent in the south east and 5.1 nationally.