Norwich North's rate of unemployment remains better than the national average

I have responded to figures released by the Office of National Statistics today, which show that Norwich North's rate of unemployment remains better than the national average. 

The February 2021 figures for the unadjusted claimant count have been published today, which show the number of people who were claiming unemployment related benefits. This includes those who were claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance or were claiming Universal Credit and are required to seek work.

There were 3,305 actual claimants in Norwich North constituency in February 2021,  which was 6.0% of the population aged 16-64. The equivalent UK claimant rate was 6.5%. 

This was 210 higher than January 2021 and 1,780 higher than February 2020, before the UK lockdown began. Note the majority of the increase happened in March-May at the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

There were 645 claimants aged 18-24 in February 2021, 35 higher than January 2021 and 310 higher than February 2020. 

Nationally, the number of workers on company payrolls in the UK climbed by 200,000 in the three months to February, amid signs that the jobs crisis may be stabilising. 

However, the number on payrolls is still 693,000 lower than last February, before Covid lockdown measures began. 

People aged under 25 continue to bear the brunt of the job losses, the Office for National Statistics said. 

It came as the unemployment rate stood at 5%, down from 5.1% previously. 

Today’s figures underline the scale of the challenge the country is facing. I know how worried people are - about their health, the health of their loved ones, their jobs, their businesses, and their financial security. And that’s why the Government’s economic priority remains the same: protect jobs. The Government has announced new measures, including extending furlough, more generous support for the self-employed, and an ability to top-up Bounce Back Loans to protect jobs in Norwich, supporting people to continue to provide for their families. 

The Government has already launched the Kickstart scheme to help 250,000 young people into work. I was pleased to see the that the Chancellor went further in the budget earlier this month by doubling the incentive payment to small businesses to take on apprentices of any age to £3,000, alongside £126 million to triple the number of traineeships next year. They’ve also launched the Restart scheme to help hundreds of thousands of long term unemployed; doubled the number of Work Coaches; and introduced the Lifetime Skills Guarantee to fund Level 3 Qualifications for all adults.

This could really make a difference in Norwich, where people will be looking ahead now to how we can return to prosperity and opportunity including for our young people.

To find out how to get involved with the Norwich for Jobs project as an employer or a young person looking for work please e-mail info@norwichforjobs.org.uk.