There has been a significant fall in the number of young job-seekers claiming out-of-work benefits in Waverley, according to the latest stats.

Department for Work and Pensions data shows there were 25 fewer claimants aged 18 to 24 in September, a drop of 13 per cent on a year earlier.

In total, 1,280 people in the borough claimed out-of-work benefits in September, six per cent fewer than in 2022.

These figures include those on Job Seekers Allowance and Universal Credit. Employment is at a near-record high.

Government figures show there are fewer people claiming work related benefits in Waverley than a year ago
Government figures show there are fewer people claiming work related benefits in Waverley than a year ago (DWP)

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP said: “There are more than one million more people on company payrolls compared to 2019, a near record high, and today’s statistics also show inactivity has fallen by over a quarter of a million since the pandemic peak.

“Growing the economy is our priority. That’s why we are bearing down on inflation and bringing in the next generation of welfare reforms to drive down inactivity and help more people into work.”

DWP figures for October also show:

  • Payroll employment is close to a record high at 30.1 million – 370,000 higher than this time last year and 1.1m higher than before the pandemic.
  • There are 3.9 million more people in work than in 2010.
  • The unemployment rate is below many of our international peers, including Canada, France and Spain. Long-term unemployment continues to fall, down over 10 per cent on the year and over 60 per cent since 2010.
  • Economic inactivity has fallen by over a quarter of a million since the pandemic peak and is lower than the average for the G7, the EU and the OECD.