Unemployment in Northampton rose slightly in January, new figures released today show.
There were 5,721 people in Northampton claiming jobseeker’s allowance in January, an increase of 292 from December 2012.
The total is equivalent to 4.1 per cent of the population, which is above the East Midlands average of 3.7 per cent, and the national average of 3.8 per cent.
In December 2012, there were 5,429 people claiming jobseeker’s allowance, equivalent to 3.9 per cent.
The figures released by the Office for National Statistics show the number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance nationally has fallen to a near two-year low.
Almost 30 million people were in work at the end of 2012, an increase of 154,000 on the quarter to September, and the highest total since records began in 1971.
The claimant count fell for the third month in a row in January, down by 12,500 to 1.54 million, the lowest since June 2011.
Unemployment, including those not eligible for benefit, fell by 14,000 in the final quarter of last year to 2.5 million, but youth unemployment increased by 11,000.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, said: “The fall in long-term unemployment is particularly welcome and shows that the training and support we are offering is helping people move off benefits and into work. These figures show another big increase in full-time jobs, half a million more British people in work over the past year and more women in employment than ever before.”
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