Unemployment in Hull and East Yorkshire Rises as More People Claim Benefits

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Hull and East Riding has increased during the past month.

The number of unemployment benefits claimants in Hull has increased by two per cent (125 people) in December, 2017 compared to the previous month.

East Riding saw a sharper increase, with the number of people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance or Universal Credit rising six per cent (176 people).

But despite the increase, representatives from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in the region say the figures are not unusual for the time of year.

They also say there are currently "plenty" of job vacancies opening in Hull and East Yorkshire.

Nationally there are record high numbers of people in work in the UK at 32.2 million people.

Gill Dillon, employer and partnership manager for the DWP North East, Yorkshire and Humber, says this rise is not a cause for concern and that is a wide variety of vacancies available for people looking for work.

She said: “The number of claimants is at 6,175, so it has increased, but that is what we tend to see at this time of year with end of seasonal jobs.

“We expect we might see a small increase in claimants next month as well, but after that we would typically see the figures come back down again.

“The important thing to note is that there are still plenty of jobs available. There are people looking for work but we are currently seeing plenty of vacancies in our system across sectors.”

The number of people on unemployment benefits in Hull is also three per cent higher for December 2017’s figures, also shows a three per cent rise - 190 people - compared to the same period in 2016.

During the last five years, however, the number of people on these benefits has fallen by 59 per cent, meaning 8,750 fewer people were claiming unemployment in December 2017 compared to December 2012.

National figures show the number of people in employment has risen to a joint record of high of 75.3 per cent, with a record 32.2 million people in work.

Ms Dillon says there has been positive recruitment in the hospitality sector locally, with numerous employers speaking to the DWP regarding vacancies.

Image: Gill Dillon from the Department for Work and Pensions

She said: “Employers in the hospitality industry have been really positive at recruiting, particularly when it comes to food and drink businesses.

“We are working with employers and training centres to ensure we can help get people who are currently unemployed back into work with the skills they need

She added there are a number of key things people looking for work can do in order to help themselves get back into employment.

Ms Dillon said: “You need to make sure you’re looking in the right places. You can look for jobs online, in newspapers, through recruitment agencies, and in Jobcentre Plus centres across the country.

“It’s really important to have a good CV. Also, it’s important to take your job search online, using LinkedIn and Universal Jobmatch."

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Esther McVey, said: “We had a record-breaking 2017 for employment, and I’m delighted to see this trend continue as we enter the New Year.

“The number of people in work is at an all-time high and the unemployment rate has not been this low for over 40 years."

Image: The job centre in Ferensway