Jobseeker numbers fall again

Figures released yesterday show that 72,500 people were claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) in Greater Manchester in September 2013 – a decrease of 4,100 (5.4%) when compared with the figure for August 2013 of 76,700.

Monthly declines were also seen across the North West (4.7%) and Great Britain (4.8%). As a proportion of the resident working age population, 4.1% of people in Greater Manchester were claiming JSA in September – higher than the North West (3.7% of the population) and Great Britain (3.2%).

Youth unemployment (JSA claimants aged 16-24) in Greater Manchester decreased on a monthly basis between August and September, falling by approximately 1,200 to around 19,100. On an annual basis, the number of youth JSA claimants is 23.5% (5,900) lower than this time last year.

There was a decline in long-term (6 months+) claimants in Greater Manchester in September 2013 to 34,800, a monthly fall of 2,000 (5.4%). On an annual basis the number of long-term claimants is 8.8% (3,400) lower than this time last year. Annual declines in long-term claimants were also experienced in the North West (10.4%) and Great Britain (9.5%).

Commenting on the data Baron Frankal, director of economic strategy at New Economy, said: “With the good news that Greater Manchester’s Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants are slowly declining each month, the focus should now turn to sustaining this trend over the medium-term and then accelerating it.

“There remains a great deal to do, although the recent news of the £800 million Chinese investment in Airport City – a major coup – sets a fair wind behind the argument that with the right stimulus on the demand-side of the economy, good things will come; though for everyone to benefit we also need to tackle difficult supply-side issues as well, such as the poorer parts of our education system.

“However, it also helps tremendously - both in drawing investment and talent, and retaining highly-skilled people - that Manchester is a great place to live, as evidenced again recently when we overtook London in Experian’s study of the UK’s most vibrant places to live.”