Unemployment continues to fall in Devon

The number of Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) claimants in Devon has once again fallen during December (in line with the national trend), reaching a new lowest figure on record.

Total claimants now stand at 3,998, 21 claimants fewer than in November (a 0.5% month on month drop). Whilst the fall is lower than the UK average of 2.9%, as a proportion of the working age population, Devon remains far lower at 0.9%, compared to the UK at 2%.

At a district level, JSA claimant numbers fell for six of Devon’s eight districts by an average of 3.4%; the largest drop was in the South Hams where claimants fell by 8.7% between November and December.

The districts which experienced increases were East Devon and North Devon. North Devon seeing by far the highest increase of 9.3%. However, when comparing such rises to the proportion of the working age population, JSA claimant levels in both districts remain well below the UK average; North Devon’s claimant count standing at 1% of the working age population in comparison to the UK at 2%.

Youth unemployment (the number of people aged 24 and under claiming JSA) decreased by 1.5% between November and December for Devon. Only one district (North Devon) experiencing an increase in youth unemployment of 18% from November; the other seven either decreasing or experiencing no change.

Overall the picture at a district level is in sharp contrast to November where half of Devon’s districts experienced increases in youth unemployment from October. When compared with the proportion of the working age population, all Devon’s districts (with the exception of Torridge at 2.8%) are far below the UK average figure of 2.5% - Devon’s youth unemployment still standing at just 1.2% of the working age population.

Cllr Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for Economy and Growth stated, ‘The latest JSA figures are an encouraging sign that Devon’s economy is continuing to provide employment opportunities. The decreases in youth unemployment for the majority of Devon’s Districts are also great to see, although it is important to put such increases in context - youth unemployment remaining a challenge for Devon as a whole. This is something we will continue to address through a number of schemes such as the Youth Deal wage progression pilot and Devon County Council’s Enterprise Education grant funding. We are also continuing our work raising youth unemployment as an issue at a Local Enterprise Partnership level and working with them to tackle this problem through emerging funding programmes.’