The interactive map shows unemployment levels in each area of Merseyside
Unemployment has fallen across Merseyside(Image: PA)
Unemployment has fallen across every part of Merseyside, despite the UK’s rising jobless rate. The UK’s unemployment rate surged to 5% in the three months to September, up from 4.8% the previous quarter, and the highest since August 2016, excluding the pandemic period.
However, separate figures mapping unemployment in local areas show that most parliamentary constituencies have seen unemployment fall since Labour swept to office in July 2024, promising to tackle joblessness. These figures are measured by counting the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in each parliamentary constituency, which is different to how the national unemployment rate is calculated.
They show that an estimated 1.7 million people were receiving Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit with a requirement to seek work as of last month, or 4% of the adult population.
While that is about 29,000 more people than in September, it is nearly 65,000 fewer than in October 2024 and more than 70,000 fewer than when Labour took office in July last year.
All 14 Merseyside constituencies have seen unemployment fall since then. The figures show there were 40,155 people claiming unemployment benefits in Merseyside in October, down from 43,890 in July of last year. That means 3,735 fewer people are now claiming benefits.
Knowsley has seen the biggest proportional drop in unemployment, with a 13% decrease, resulting in 435 fewer claimants than in July last year.
The drop in unemployment was slowest in Liverpool Walton, where it fell by 6%.
Meanwhile, Liverpool Riverside has the highest unemployment rate in Merseyside, with 6.7% of the adult population currently claiming benefits, followed by Liverpool Wavertree (6.2%), and Liverpool Walton (5.8%).You can see whether unemployment is rising or falling where you live using our interactive map.
The unemployment rate, which paints a far gloomier picture than the benefit count, is measured using surveys to include everyone looking for and available for work, whether they are claiming benefits or not.
This is the international measure of unemployment, as defined by the International Labour Organisation.
However, this method is not reliable for assessing unemployment at a local level because of the small number of survey respondents in each area.
A count of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance, or Universal Credit with a requirement to seek work, more accurately tracks unemployment in parliamentary constituencies.
In November of last year, the government published the “Get Britain Working” White Paper, an ambitious roadmap to achieving an 80% employment rate.
The latest figures show the UK employment rate stood at 75.0% from July to September, down from 75.1% in the previous quarter, but up from 74.6% in the quarter before Labour took office.
The government’s white paper, backed by a £240 million investment, seeks to “target and tackle the root causes of unemployment and inactivity”.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden, said the government was “stepping up our plan to Get Britain Working”.
He added: “We’ve introduced the most ambitious employment reforms in a generation to modernise jobcentres, expand youth hubs and tackle ill-health through stronger partnerships with employers.
“And this week we’re going further by launching an independent investigation that will bolster our drive to ensure all young people are earning or learning.
“We’re backing businesses to grow and create jobs by cutting red tape, signing trade deals and securing hundreds of billions in investment, which helped make the UK the fastest growing economy in the G7 in the first half of this year.”