DEVON saw an increase in the number of people claiming unemployment benefit last month, bucking the recent downward trend.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics showed 4,271 people across the county – excluding Plymouth and Torbay – were claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in January.
This represents an increase of 273 – or 6.8 per cent – since December, though the number of claimants is still 2,789 lower than a year ago. The number of people on the dole rose in all districts except North Devon. In Exeter, it was up by 84 to 836 – still 634 lower than a year ago.
In East Devon, 605 people were receiving JSA in January – an increase of 29 since December but down by 349 on 12 months ago.
At 0.9 per cent, the proportion of the working age population claiming unemployment benefit in Devon remains far lower than the UK average of 2.1 per cent.
Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, county council cabinet member for economy and growth, said: "The increase in the numbers of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance is to be expected at this time of year given the seasonal nature of our economy here in Devon. However, we should not be complacent and our continued investments in projects that support high value jobs will help to create year round opportunities. Through our Rural Growth Network, for example, we are investing in a range of workspace for business, from work hubs to innovation centres and the business support that goes with it."
Nationally, the number of people claiming JSA increased by 29,054 to 852,934 in January.
On the wider measure of unemployment, the number of people out of work across the UK fell by 97,000 to 1.86 million in the three months to December.
It means the unemployment rate now stands at 5.7 per cent of the adult working population.
The employment rate was 73.2 per cent – its joint highest rate.
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