Unemployment rising faster in Hertfordshire than in England overall

The data was presented to a meeting of the county council’s resources and performance cabinet panel
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The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Hertfordshire rose by more than 1,800 between March and September, according to a council report.

Data presented to a meeting of the county council’s resources and performance cabinet panel on Wednesday (December 2), showed that in March the ‘unemployment count’ in the county was 36,960.

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But by the end of September that figure had increased by 1,815, to 38,775.

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According to the report, the increase reflects the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic – and reflects national trends.

“Data for July, August and September 2020 shows another increase in Hertfordshire’s unemployed claimant count and clearly shows the continued effect that Covid-19 is having on the labour market,” says the report.

"There has also been a corresponding jump in data nationally.”

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A further report to the same cabinet panel suggests that the number of ‘claimants’ had levelled off slightly in October – at 37,060.

And the figures suggest that unemployment levels are rising more quickly across Hertfordshire than in the rest of England.

Between October 2019 and October 2020, it says, the number of claimants in England increased by 125.6 per cent – but in Hertfordshire the increase was 178.6 per cent.

The number of claimants, according to the data, had more than tripled in Dacorum (207.2 per cent) and in East Herts (239.1 per cent) over the 12 month period.

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But unemployment rates (as a proportion of residents aged 16-64) are highest in Broxbourne and in Watford – the only two of the Hertfordshire districts where the rate is above the England average of 6.3 per cent.

Across the county overall the claimant rate – as a proportion of residents aged 16-64 – is reported to be five per cent. But it varies between 3.9 per cent and 6.7 in different areas of the county.

As of October, it was reported to be 6.6 per cent in Broxbourne; 5.1 per cent in Dacorum; 3.9 per cent in East Hertfordshire; 5.7 per cent in Hertsmere; 4.4 per cent in North Hertfordshire; 4 per cent in St Albans; 5.9 per cent in Stevenage; 4.6 per cent in Three Rivers; 6.7 per cent in Watford; and 4.5 per cent in Welwyn Hatfield.

The increases in claimant counts across the county also vary. Between October 2019 and October 2020, it is reported to be 185.1 per cent in Broxbourne; 207.2 per cent in Dacorum; 239.1 per cent in East Hertfordshire; 183.4 per cent in Hertsmere; 173.5 per cent in North Hertfordshire; 164.4 per cent in St Albans; 148.5 per cent in Stevenage; 191.7 per cent in

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Three Rivers; 160.8 per cent in Watford; and 149.2 per cent in Welwyn Hatfield

Data presented to the resources ad performance cabinet panel suggests the number of young people ‘not n education, employment or training’ (NEET) in Hertfordshire is actually lower than at the same point last year.

In September there were reported to be 426 young people – that’s 2.32 per cent – who were NEET.

At the same point last year (2019), the report says that figure was 4.29 per cent higher – at 6.16 per cent.

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However it does suggest that the data may be revised after further revalidation.

“The NEET rate as at the end of September 2020 was 2.32 per cent,” says th report.

“This is a decrease of 4.29 percentage points from the same period 12 months ago (6.61per cent).

“Of the 426 young people in the NEET group, 350 were available and 76 were not available.

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“At this time of year data is being revalidated so does not give a complete picture, data will become more robust at the completion of this process at the end of October 2020.

“Currently the “not known” numbers are high during this process and a proportion of those will be NEET.”