West Suffolk Claimants 2,915: Highest September Since 2021

2,915 people in West Suffolk were claiming unemployment-related benefits in September. That is the highest September figure since 2021, and 135 more than a year earlier.

The figures come from the ONS claimant count, published through Nomis on 20 October (Nomis, dataset NM_162_1).

The district rate is unchanged at 2.5 per cent of residents aged 16 to 64. It is still lower than Suffolk (2.9 per cent), the East of England (3.3 per cent) and Great Britain (3.9 per cent).

Each September higher than the last

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Comparing the same month each year takes out the seasonal swing. On that measure the count has risen every year since 2022:

That is 560 more claimants than in September 2022, a rise of 23.8 per cent. The 2021 figure was still inflated by the pandemic.

Over the past year West Suffolk’s count rose 4.9 per cent. Great Britain’s rose 3.0 per cent. Suffolk as a whole rose faster than either, at 6.9 per cent.

Men account for all of the rise

Split by sex, the year looks very different:

• Men: 1,410 to 1,570, up 160.
• Women: 1,365 to 1,350, down 15.

Across Great Britain, men’s claims rose 4.0 per cent and women’s 1.9 per cent. In West Suffolk the gap is far wider: men’s claims rose 11.3 per cent while women’s fell.

By age:

• 16 to 24: 480 to 560, up 80, or 16.7 per cent. Great Britain: up 10.8 per cent.
• 25 to 49: 1,610 to 1,625, up 15.
• 50 and over: 685 to 730, up 45.

So under-25s make up 80 of the 135 extra claimants. That is the same pattern we found in August’s figures.

The wards: Haverhill South up 20 in a month

These are the highest and lowest rates among West Suffolk’s 43 wards in September (Nomis, claimant count by ward):

Haverhill South had the biggest one-month rise of any ward. Haverhill is about 16 miles south of Bury St Edmunds.

In Bury St Edmunds, the eight town wards hold 785 claimants:

• Tollgate 180 (4.2 per cent) and St Olaves 175 (4.1 per cent)
• Minden 100 (3.2 per cent)
• Eastgate 40 (2.8 per cent) and Abbeygate 85 (2.7 per cent)
• Southgate 60 (2.5 per cent), up 10 on August
• Westgate 60 (2.2 per cent)
• Moreton Hall 85 (1.6 per cent)

Tollgate and St Olaves, on the north side of town, hold 45 per cent of the town’s claimants.

Before you quote these figures

• This is not the unemployment rate. The ONS says the claimant count “does not attempt to measure unemployment”. It counts people claiming benefits principally for being unemployed. Under Universal Credit that includes some people in low-paid work who must look for more (ONS).
• Figures are rounded to the nearest five. The wards add up to 2,910 against a district total of 2,915.
• Earlier months get revised. We reported August as 2,910 last month. It now stands at 2,860. So September is 55 up on the revised August figure.

What it means for you

If you are out of work or your hours have been cut, you claim through Universal Credit on GOV.UK. West Suffolk Council’s cost of living page lists local help.

The council is also writing to older households it thinks are missing out on Pension Credit. It says more than 25 households have already gained over £3,600 a year each, on average. Anyone can ask its Financial Inclusion Service on 01284 757660 (West Suffolk Council).

For under-25s, the National Careers Service gives free careers advice by phone, webchat and in person.

We will update these figures when the October count is published next month. Other local figures: Bury St Edmunds house prices and council tax bands.