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Home , Kent County Council, Maidstone, Tonbridge

Last Unemployment in updated: 14 September 2021

While claimant count unemployment rates remain high following the impact of COVID-19 they are now falling. Related Documents The claimant rate in Kent is currently 4.8%, below the UK average rate of 5.2%. Unemployment in Kent fell by 2.6% over the previous Welfare Reform Report month, whereas nationally it fell by 2.1%.

Ward unemployment Youth unemployment (18-24) in Kent is slightly higher than the interactive model national average: 7.0% in Kent, 6.9% UK. Kent saw a reduction in youth unemployment of -5.0% while nationally it fell by 3.4%.

Unemployment Measures Unemployment has fallen for both males and females over last Bulletin month: -3.3% for males in Kent compared to -1.7% for females. Universal Credit Claimants The latest data for August 2021 was released on the 14th September 2021 and is presented below.

This workbook looks at the number of people claiming either Jobseekers Allowance or Further Universal Credit principally for the reason of being unemployed. It also looks at the Information age and sex of claimants, in particular at youth unemployment which is defined as those aged 18 to 24.

This workbook uses information from a dataset called The Claimant Count by Sex and Kent Age. This experimental series counts the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Analytics Allowance plus those who claim Universal Credit who are out of work. Kent Council Under Universal Credit a broader span of claimants are required to look for work than Invicta House under Jobseeker's Allowance. As Universal Credit Full Service is rolled out in particular Kent areas, the number of people recorded as being on the Claimant Count is therefore ME14 1XQ likely to rise.

Tel: 03000 417444 Unemployment rates are calculated using the Office for National Statistics Mid-year Population Estimates 2007-2020. The resident working age population is defined as Email: all males and females aged 16-64. These denominators will be updated annually with [email protected] the ONS mid-year population estimates.

Kent Analytics, Kent www.kent.gov.uk/research

Kent Analytics, www.kent.gov.uk/research 7 Total Unemployment

6

5

4 % 3

2

1

0 Jul-09 Jul-14 Jul-19 Jan-07 Jan-12 Jan-17 Jun-07 Jun-12 Jun-17 Oct-10 Oct-15 Oct-20 Apr-08 Apr-13 Apr-18 Sep-08 Feb-09 Sep-13 Feb-14 Sep-18 Feb-19 Dec-09 Dec-14 Dec-19 Aug-11 Aug-16 Aug-21 Nov-07 Nov-12 Nov-17 Mar-11 Mar-16 Mar-21 May-10 May-15 May-20 Source: ONS Claimant Count Kent August 2021 Presented by: Kent Analytics, Kent County Council

Number Number change since % change since change since % change since August 2021 Number % rate July 2021 July 2021 August 2020 August 2020 Kent 45,570 4.8% -1,240 -2.6% -13,595 -23.0% United Kingdom 2,185,420 5.2% -47,340 -2.1% -502,690 -18.7%

District unemployment Number Number change since % change since change since % change since August 2021 Number % rate July 2021 July 2021 August 2020 August 2020 Ashford 3,610 4.6% -115 -3.1% -1,320 -26.8% 4,080 3.9% -105 -2.5% -1,395 -25.5% 3,175 4.4% -140 -4.2% -885 -21.8% 3,555 5.1% -115 -3.1% -1,200 -25.2% & Hythe 3,730 5.7% -160 -4.1% -1,220 -24.6% 3,960 6.1% -135 -3.3% -935 -19.1% Maidstone 4,470 4.3% -30 -0.7% -1,085 -19.5% 2,260 3.2% -45 -2.0% -725 -24.3% Swale 4,965 5.5% -110 -2.2% -1,165 -19.0% Thanet 6,660 8.2% -180 -2.6% -1,970 -22.8% and Malling 2,650 3.3% -55 -2.0% -830 -23.9% Tunbridge Wells 2,460 3.4% -45 -1.8% -865 -26.0% Kent 45,570 4.8% -1,240 -2.6% -13,595 -23.0% 10,240 5.8% -190 -1.8% -2,010 -16.4%

Kent unemployment headlines August 2021 The unemployment rate in Kent is 4.8%. This is below the rate for United Kingdom (5.2%).

45,570 people were claiming unemployment benefits in Kent.This has fallen since last month

Thanet has the highest unemployment rate at 8.2%. Sevenoaks has the lowest unemployment rate at 3.2%.

The 18-24 year old unemployment rate in Kent is 7%. They account for 18.4% of all unemployed people in the area

Thanet has the highest 18-24 year old unemployment rate in the South East at 12.1%.

Kent Analytics, Kent County Council www.kent.gov.uk/research Unemployment by sex Kent Number Number change since % change since change since % change since August 2021 Number % rate July 2021 July 2021 August 2020 August 2020 Males 26,325 5.6% -910 -3.3% -8,665 -24.8% Females 19,245 4.0% -330 -1.7% -4,930 -20.4% Total 45,570 4.8% -1,240 -2.6% -13,595 -23.0%

District unemployment by sex Male Males Female Female August 2021 claimants claimant rate claimants claimant rate Ashford 2,045 5.4% 1,565 3.9% Canterbury 2,420 4.6% 1,660 3.2% Dartford 1,750 4.9% 1,425 3.9% Dover 2,070 6.0% 1,485 4.3% Folkestone & Hythe 2,240 6.8% 1,490 4.5% Gravesham 2,260 7.0% 1,700 5.2% Maidstone 2,575 4.9% 1,895 3.6% Sevenoaks 1,235 3.6% 1,025 2.8% Swale 2,820 6.3% 2,145 4.7% Thanet 4,020 10.2% 2,640 6.4% Tonbridge & Malling 1,495 3.8% 1,155 2.8% Tunbridge Wells 1,395 3.9% 1,065 3.0% Kent 26,325 5.6% 19,245 4.0% Medway 5,975 6.9% 4,260 4.8%

70,000 Unemployment by sex Kent 60,000

Females 50,000 Males

40,000

Number 30,000

20,000

10,000

0 July 2007 July 2008 July 2009 July 2010 July 2011 July 2012 July 2013 July 2014 July 2015 July 2016 July 2017 July 2018 July 2019 July 2020 July 2021 April 2007 April 2008 April 2009 April 2010 April 2011 April 2012 April 2013 April 2014 April 2015 April 2016 April 2017 April 2018 April 2019 April 2020 April 2021 January 2007 January 2008 January 2009 January 2010 January 2011 January 2012 January 2013 January 2014 January 2015 January 2016 January 2017 January 2018 January 2019 January 2020 January 2021 October 2007 October 2008 October 2009 October 2010 October 2011 October 2012 October 2013 October 2014 October 2015 October 2016 October 2017 October 2018 October 2019 October 2020 Source: ONS Claimant Count Presented by: Kent Analytics, Kent County Council

Kent Analytics, Kent County Council www.kent.gov.uk/research Unemployment by age group in Kent Number Number change since % change since change since % change since August 2021 Number % rate July 2021 July 2021 August 2020 August 2020 18-24 8,420 7.0% -445 -5.0% -3,775 -31.0% 25-49 25,730 5.3% -465 -1.8% -6,765 -20.8% 50-64 11,335 3.6% -330 -2.8% -3,020 -21.0%

District unemployment by age group

18-24 25-49 50-64 18-24 claimant 25-49 claimant 50-64 claimant August 2021 claimants claimants claimants rate rate rate Ashford 675 2,010 920 7.7% 5.1% 3.5% Canterbury 885 2,225 965 3.4% 4.7% 3.3% Dartford 540 1,950 680 7.2% 4.6% 3.4% Dover 635 1,955 960 8.2% 5.9% 3.7% Folkestone & Hythe 625 2,015 1,080 8.6% 6.3% 4.4% Gravesham 760 2,255 940 10.1% 6.5% 4.5% Maidstone 805 2,645 1,010 6.9% 4.8% 2.9% Sevenoaks 375 1,285 595 5.2% 3.6% 2.4% Swale 1,045 2,705 1,200 9.3% 5.9% 3.9% Thanet 1,165 3,800 1,680 12.1% 9.7% 5.9% 480 1,495 675 5.4% 3.6% 2.5% Tunbridge Wells 430 1,390 635 6.3% 3.8% 2.6% Kent 8,420 25,730 11,335 7.0% 5.3% 3.6% Medway 2,030 5,955 2,235 9.2% 6.3% 4.2%

12.0 18-24 year old unemployment

10.0

8.0

% 6.0

4.0

2.0

0.0 Jul-09 Jul-14 Jul-19 Jan-07 Jan-12 Jan-17 Jun-07 Jun-12 Jun-17 Oct-10 Oct-15 Oct-20 Apr-08 Apr-13 Apr-18 Sep-08 Feb-09 Sep-13 Feb-14 Sep-18 Feb-19 Dec-09 Dec-14 Dec-19 Aug-11 Aug-16 Aug-21 Nov-07 Nov-12 Nov-17 Mar-11 Mar-16 Mar-21 May-10 May-15 May-20

Source: ONS Claimant Count Kent Aug-21 United Kingdom Presented by: Kent Analytics, Kent County Council

18-24 Unemployment Number Number change since % change since change since % change since August 2021 Number % rate July 2021 July 2021 August 2020 August 2020 Kent 8,420 7.0% -445 -5.0% -3,775 -31.0% United Kingdom 384,175 6.9% -13,340 -3.4% -139,165 -26.6%

Kent Analytics, Kent County Council www.kent.gov.uk/research Unemployment by age group - % of all unemployed Number of % of all Number of % of all claimants in unemployed in claimants in unemployed in United United August 2021 Kent Kent Kingdom Kingdom 18-24 8,420 18.5% 384,175 17.6% 25-49 25,730 56.5% 1,268,500 58.0% 50-64 11,335 24.9% 527,350 24.1%

14.0% 18-24 year old unemployment rates in the South East 12.0%

10.0% Kent LAs

GB average 8.0%

6.0%

4.0%

2.0%

0.0% Hart Arun Adur Swale Dover Rother Oxford Thanet Havant Woking Ashford Reading Gosport Dartford Medway Cherwell Fareham Wealden Eastleigh Horsham Waverley Worthing Tandridge Elmbridge Rushmoor Sevenoaks Chichester Maidstone Test Valley Spelthorne Mid Sussex Mid Canterbury Gravesham New Forest New Eastbourne Winchester Mole Valley Portsmouth Runnymede Wokingham Isle of Wight of Isle Surrey Heath Southampton Milton Keynes West Berkshire West East Hampshire East Bracknell Forest Tunbridge Wells Epsom and Ewell Buckinghamshire West Oxfordshire West South Oxfordshire Brighton and Hove and Brighton Vale Vale Whiteof Horse Reigate and Banstead Reigate Source: ONS Claimant Count Hythe and Folkestone Tonbridge and Malling and Tonbridge Presented by: Strategic Kent Analytics, Kent County Council Deane and Basingstoke Windsor and Maidenhead and Windsor

70,000 Number of unemployed aged 18-24 in Kent Source: ONS Claimant Count Presented by: Kent Analytics, Kent County Council

60,000 18-24 unemployed

All other unemployed 50,000

40,000

30,000

20,000

10,000

0 Jul-07 Jul-08 Jul-09 Jul-10 Jul-11 Jul-12 Jul-13 Jul-14 Jul-15 Jul-16 Jul-17 Jul-18 Jul-19 Jul-20 Jul-21 Jan-07 Jan-08 Jan-09 Jan-10 Jan-11 Jan-12 Jan-13 Jan-14 Jan-15 Jan-16 Jan-17 Jan-18 Jan-19 Jan-20 Jan-21 Oct-07 Oct-08 Oct-09 Oct-10 Oct-11 Oct-12 Oct-13 Oct-14 Oct-15 Oct-16 Oct-17 Oct-18 Oct-19 Oct-20 Apr-07 Apr-08 Apr-09 Apr-10 Apr-11 Apr-12 Apr-13 Apr-14 Apr-15 Apr-16 Apr-17 Apr-18 Apr-19 Apr-20 Apr-21

Kent Analytics, Kent County Council www.kent.gov.uk/research This workbook looks at the total number of people claiming either Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit principally for the reason of being unemployed. It also looks at the age profile of claimants, in particular at youth unemployment which is defined as those aged 18 to 24.

This workbook uses information from a dataset called The Claimant Count by Sex and Age. This experimental series counts the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance plus those who claim Universal Credit who are out of work. The dataset currently includes some out of work claimants of Universal Credit who are not required to look for work; for example, due to illness or disability. Therefore this dataset is considered experimental and the results should be interpreted with caution. Unemployment rates are calculated using the Office for National Statistics Mid-year Population Estimates 2007-2020. The resident working age population is defined as all males and females aged 16-64. These denominators will be updated annually with the ONS mid-year population estimates.

Introduction of Universal Credit Since 2013 the roll out of Universal Credit has progressed across the UK. Universal Credit will replace a number of means-tested benefits including the means-tested element of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). The Universal Credit Live Service roll out in Kent & Medway began in April 2015. This was replaced in 2016 with the Universal Credit Full Service using the DWP bespoke digital system. The full service rollout in Kent was completed in autumn 2018. The table below shows how Universal Credit rolled out within Kent districts. While initially Universal Credit was only available to single claimants without a partner and without child dependents, the roll out of the full service made Universal Credit available to all new claimant types and to those reporting changes to their personal circumstances.

From July 2019 the government intends to begin a pilot scheme transferring claimants of existing benefits (those that Universal Credit was designed to replace) onto Universal Credit. This managed migration will start initially with 10,000 existing claimants. They won’t start moving people over to Universal Credit in great numbers until the pilot scheme has been completed and assessed, however they plan to have completed the full migration process by the end of 2023.

For more information on Universal Credit: https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit

Produced by: Kent Analytics, Kent County Council Tel: 03000 417444

Email: [email protected]

Kent Analytics, Kent County Council www.kent.gov.uk/research