Universal Credit claimant numbers rise in Peterborough as festive jobs hike is hit by Covid-19

The number of Universal Credit claimants in Peterborough has risen after a hoped for Christmas jobs boost failed to materialise.
Job Centre Plus.  (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) SUS-200204-154906001Job Centre Plus.  (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) SUS-200204-154906001
Job Centre Plus. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) SUS-200204-154906001

New figures show the number of claimants rose by 686 people to 26,229 for the four weeks to December 10 - a rate of increase of 2.7 per cent for the Peterborough local authority area.

Covid-19 uncertainty and restrictions in the already battered retail and hospitality sectors helped to squash the traditional surge of seasonal jobs that usually drives down the claimant figures.

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The statistics show Peterborough’s rate of increase in claimant numbers is still higher than the regional and national figures.

Over the same period, the number of Universal Credit claimants across the East of England rose by 2.3 per cent to 493,730 people while in England the number of claimants went up to 5,148,005 people - up 2.2 per cent.

A spokesman for the Department for Works and Pensions said: “Usually at this time we tend to see a decrease in the figures because there is a boost from the retail industry, but restrictions and a pending lockdown threw a spanner in the works.

He added: “It is not all gloom. There are many vacancies about and our own website has more than 1,000 vacancies in a range of sectors.”

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However, concern for the state of the economy has also been heightened as the unemployment rate across the UK reached five per cent - its highest level for more than four years.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics show a rise of 202,000 in the number of unemployed between September and November compared to the previous three months, taking the total to 1.72 billion.

Minister for Employment Mims Davies MP said: “These figures show many people are still facing difficult times, but our support is helping keep millions of workers on payrolls across the country.

“Whilst there is light at the end of the tunnel with jabs already in the arms of millions and the vaccine rollout gathering pace, our Plan for Jobs is helping to protect and support livelihoods, as well as create new opportunities for those who need them.

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“The number of vacancies has risen for six consecutive months, our Kickstart Scheme for young people has already created more than 120,000 job placements and we have provided over £280 billion to protect incomes and livelihoods as we battle the pandemic.”