Unemployment rises in Devon

The number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) in Devon has risen for the first time since February 2013, with figures increasing by 66 claimants over the past month.
Claimants in Devon have gone up from 6,513 in October to 6,579 in November meaning a 1% increase from last month.

The news comes the same day as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) report reveals that the overall national unemployment rate has fallen.

The ONS reports that nationally 250,000 more people are now in employment since July this year.

The new employment rate in Great Britain is highest in the South East (76.0%) and lowest in the North East (67.9%). The South West is only slightly behind the South East

the number of people claiming JSA in Devon has fallen by 2,628 claimants over the last few years

The number of people aged 24 and under claiming JSA has also increased slightly - by 45 claimants - rising from 1,730 in October to 1,775 in November. This represents a 5.5% monthly decrease, compared to the UK average of 6.1%.

In November 2012, youth unemployment in the county stood at 2,700 compared to 1,775 in November 2013, which is a 34.3% reduction (or 925 claimants) over the year and a bigger reduction than the UK average of 26%.

Youth unemployment in Devon accounts for 27% of the total JSA claimants compared to 25.7% for the UK as a whole.

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, said: "Whilst it is disappointing to hear of an increase in unemployment, it is not altogether unexpected to see a rise at this time of the year and is very often down to the effects of summer seasonal employment which generally comes to an end by the final weeks of October.

The particular rises in unemployment in North Devon and Torridge make it clear that there is a strong case for the granting of Assisted Area status to northern Devon. Devon County Council has been working very closely with the Heart of the South West LEP and MPs to make this case."