15 August 2007 - Flint: total number on out of work benefits down by one million since 1997
Caroline Flint, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, welcomed today's Labour Market figures– which show that the total number on the main out of work benefits has fallen by over a million since 1997. Employment has risen and unemployment has fallen.
The latest figures show that:
- The number on Jobseeker’s Allowance is down 99.8 thousand on the year and down 8.5 thousand in July to 855.3 thousand
- The number on incapacity benefits is 2.66 million, down 43 thousand in the year to February 2007, its lowest level in over 7 years
- The number on lone parent benefits is 771 thousand, down 6 thousand on the year.
- Employment is 29.07 million - up 93 thousand on the quarter and 144 thousand on the year
- ILO unemployment is down 45 thousand on the quarter and 29 thousand on the year
- Vacancies are 653.8 thousand, up 61.8 thousand on the year
- Redundancies are at a record low at 120 thousand
Caroline Flint said:
"This is a very strong set of figures: the total number on the main out of work benefits – Jobseeker’s Allowance, Incapacity Benefits and lone parent benefits – has fallen by over one million since 1997. Employment is at near record levels and unemployment is down again. But we are determined to do more. That’s why our Green Paper sets out our plans for helping those who have yet to take up opportunities in the labour market. This is central to our strategy for achieving 80% employment in this generation and eradicating child poverty.”
Background to labour market statistics: August 2007
This month’s labour force survey covers April to June 2007. The claimant unemployment and vacancy count dates were 12th July and 6th July respectively.
Employment is at record levels
- 29.07 million people were in work in April to June, one of the highest figures on record
- Employment rose by 93 thousand on the quarter and 144 thousand on the year
- The employment rate is 74.4%, up 0.1 percentage point on the quarter, down 0.1 percentage point on the year
The numbers on all of the main out of-of-work benefits are falling
- the claimant count was 855.3 thousand in July 2007, down 8.5 thousand on the month, and down 99.8 thousand on the year. It has now fallen for 10 consecutive months
- in the year to February 2007, the number of people receiving incapacity benefits was 2.66 million, down 43 thousand on the year. The number has fallen in each of the last nine quarters, and is at its lowest level for seven-and-a-half years
- in the year to February 2007, the number of people receiving lone parent benefits was 771 thousand, down 6 thousand on the year
ILO unemployment remains at levels not seen since the 1970s
- 1.65 million people were unemployed in April to June, down by 45 thousand on the quarter and 29 thousand on the year
- The unemployment rate is 5.4%, down 0.2 percentage points on the quarter, down 0.1 percentage point on the year
Inactivity is unchanged on the quarter
- the economic inactivity level is 7.95 million, up 7 thousand on the quarter, and up 124 thousand on the year
- the economic inactivity rate is 21.2%, unchanged on the quarter, but up 0.2 percentage points on the year
Vacancies remain very high and redundancies are very low
- ONS’s vacancy survey estimates 653.8 thousand unfilled vacancies in the three months to July 2007, up 14.9 thousand on the quarter, and up 61.8 thousand on the year
- More than 10,000 vacancies are placed at Jobcentres every working day and at least as many again come up through other recruitment channels
- Redundancies are at record lows. There were 120 thousand redundancies this quarter, down 25 thousand on the previous quarter and the lowest level since comparable records began in 1995
Earnings growth in the year to June was 3.3%, down 0.2 percentage points from May
- excluding bonuses, average earnings growth was 3.4%, down 0.1 percentage point from the May rate
Main Out of Work Benefits May 1997- February 2007 levels in thousands
| Date | Total on key out-of-work benefits* | JSA (claimant count)** | IB/SDA | IS Lone Parents | Other (IS others and PC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May-97 | 5533.1 |
1619.6 |
2,616.3 |
1,014.2 |
283.0 |
| Feb-97 | 5524.2 |
1752.8 |
2457.5 |
1020.6 |
293.3 |
| Feb-98 | 5257.3 |
1380.7 |
2639.7 |
972.7 |
264.2 |
| Feb-99 | 5136.8 |
1304.5 |
2641.7 |
940.9 |
249.7 |
| Feb-00 | 4969.4 |
1152.2 |
2676.5 |
923.5 |
217.2 |
| Feb-01 | 4841.2 |
999.5 |
2750.5 |
908.2 |
183.0 |
| Feb-02 | 4751.5 |
951.9 |
2745.7 |
877.1 |
176.8 |
| Feb-03 | 4724.5 |
942.5 |
2776.6 |
848.9 |
156.5 |
| Feb-04 | 4655.3 |
892.1 |
2777.6 |
830.3 |
155.3 |
| Feb-05 | 4528.6 |
824.0 |
2757.7 |
793.1 |
153.8 |
| Feb-06 | 4562.1 |
926.4 |
2705.6 |
777.1 |
153.0 |
| Nov-06 | 4,551.2 |
942.2 |
2,673.1 |
775.6 |
160.3 |
| Feb-07 | 4,452.1*** |
947.2 |
2,662.2 |
771.4 |
163.2 |
| Jul-07 | - |
864.1 |
- |
- |
- |
*Time series constructed using NOMIS claimant count data, 100% WPLS data and 5% sample data.
**all figures are Great Britain (not seasonally adjusted) except JSA which is UK (seasonally adjusted).
*** Using latest claimant count data.
The numbers on the main out of work benefits have fallen by 1.08 million between May 1997 and February 2007. Later JSA figures show a fall between May 1997 and July 2007 of 764,300.
Over the last year:
- Jobseeker’s Allowance is down 99,800 to July 2007
- Incapacity Benefit is down 43,000.to February 2007
- Lone Parents benefit is down 6,000 to February 2007
- Other income related benefits are up 10,200 to February 2007
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