Unemployment in Cumbria

Headlines - January 2012 (reporting December 2011 figures)

The JSA claimant count in Cumbria rose by 95 between Nov and Dec 2011 to 8,823.  This non-seasonally adjusted figure also rose both regionally and nationally (see “other measures of joblessness” for the seasonally adjusted national figure).  The claimant count rose in Barrow (25), Copeland (27), Eden (27) and South Lakeland (69) but fell in Allerdale (-20) and Copeland (-33).  Between the same two months last year, the count in Cumbria rose by 132 people.  The JSA claimant rate in Cumbria in Dec 2011 was unchanged at 2.9%.  The rate was also unchanged nationally (3.9%) and regionally (4.4%).  

Compared to a year ago, the JSA claimant count in Cumbria is 1,206 higher, a rise of 15.8% over the year.  It is also higher nationally than a year ago but by a smaller margin, 10.1%.  The claimant rate in Cumbria is up by 0.4 compared to a year ago, the national rate is also up by 0.4 compared to a year ago.

A third of all claimants, 2,955, were young people aged 16-24, a countywide rise of 15 from last month.  Overall, 5.9% of all people in this age group are claiming JSA, lower than the national average of 6.3% but more than double the rate for the population as a whole in Cumbria.  JSA Claimant rates for young people in Allerdale (7.2%), Barrow (8.8%) and Copeland (9.0%) are higher than nationally.

For more information about current unemployment please follow the briefing links below.  Alternatively, if you require any further information relating to unemployment then please contact Ginny Murphy, Research Officer, Environment Directorate, Cumbria County Council at ginny.murphy@cumbria.gov.uk or tel: 01228 226753.