Claimant Count in

Unemployment

The percentage of out of work benefit claimants continues to drop with Walsall now having a rate of 2.7% compared to 2.3% for the region and 1.9% nationally. The chart below shows the drop and closing of the gap since 2013 and March 2016.

JSA Claimants

The graph below shows that Walsall has had a consistently lower rate of JSA claimants across all ages when compared against neighbouring boroughs in the Black Country.

Recent figures show the highest concentration of job seekers are in the wards of St. Matthews, Darlaston South and Willenhall South.

Wards Total claimants Number Rate Aldridge Central and South 71 0.9 Aldridge North and 93 1.2 Bentley and Darlaston North 222 2.6 Birchills Leamore 287 3.0 Blakenall 283 3.3 Bloxwich East 200 2.8 Bloxwich West 190 2.3 Brownhills 111 1.4 Darlaston South 363 4.0 Paddock 70 0.9 Palfrey 242 2.3 Pelsall 75 1.1 Pheasey Park Farm 57 0.8 Pleck 280 2.9 Rushall-Shelfield 96 1.3 Short Heath 156 2.2 St Matthew's 312 3.0 Streetly 45 0.5 Willenhall North 176 2.2 Willenhall South 374 3.6 Walsall 3,703 2.2

ESA Claimants

ESA figures have remained consistent with over 2 million people claiming Incapacity Benefit (IB), in Great Britain over the past 5 years. Figures for May 2015 showed that 6.3% of the UK’s working population (2,514,490) were in receipt of ESA or IB. The number of IB claimants across the West Midlands (6.7%) was slightly higher in the same period, but consistent with national statistics, however claimants were greater than average in the Black Country (7.8%) and higher still in Walsall (8%). The general trend shows an increase in IB claimants across the country.

Area Incapacity Incapacity Incapacity % of % % benefits Benefits Benefits working Change Change (ESA/IB) (ESA/IB) (ESA/IB) age Year 5 Years May 2010 May 2014 May 2015 population Great Britain 2,602,680 2,462,730 2,514,490 6.3% +2% -3.3% West Midlands 236,830 226,120 237,520 6.7% +4.8% +0.29% Birmingham 53,110 53,830 56,770 8% +5.2% +6.4% Black Country 55,350 52,510 55,940 7.8% +6.1% +1% Walsall 13,130 12,510 13,420 8% +6.8% +2.2%