Corporate Research briefing paper
December 2011 Job Seekers Allowance
Background
This report analyses the number of people who were in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance
(JSA) in December 2011.
The unemployment figures presented in this insight are published by the Office for National
Statistics (ONS) each month. Claimant unemployment percentages are calculated by
dividing the number of claimants by the number of local authority area residents aged 1664. This claimant count measure was introduced in January 2003 and replaced the
previous measure based on workforce rates.
Unemployment is often measured by the uptake of Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) benefit.
This takes into account those who are unemployed and seeking employment but not
people who are unemployed and not seeking work.
NB: The population figures used to calculate residence-based proportions (rates) have changed
from working age (16-59f/64m) to aged 16-64 for both males and females. This change affects
rates for all dates. So rates for all dates will differ to those downloaded previously.
1. Summary
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The claimant rate in Blackburn with Darwen (4.8%) is higher than the North West
rate (4.4%) and the national rate of 3.8%.
The claimant rate of 4.8% for Blackburn with Darwen equates to a total of 4,242
people, approximately 70% of whom are male.
The male claimant rate of 6.6% is approximately twice the claimant rate for females
(3.0%).
The annual change shows 36.6% more female claimants, male claimants increased
by approximately 15% during the same period. The number of JSA claimants overall
increased by a fifth.
In December 2011, 795 people started claiming JSA, and 844 stopped, this equates
to approximately 10.5% fewer people joining and a 3.2% more leaving the claimant
count compared to the same month of the previous year. Compared to November
2011, off-flows decreased by approximately 3.7% and on-flows by 5.2%.
The majority of claimants (over a half, 56.5%) are aged 25-49; over a half of
claimants 54.9% have been receiving the benefit for 6 months or less.
Approximately 17% have been claiming for over 12 months and are classed as
‘long term unemployed’.
Long term claimants have doubled increasing by 305 to 580 over the year.
Three wards with the highest claimant rates are Shadsworth with Whitebirk (9.3%),
Wensley Fold (8.4%) and Sudell (7.7%).
Five wards have experienced increases in the claimant count of 30% or more over
the year.
Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).
2 Headline claimant rates
In December 2011, 4.8% of the working population in Blackburn with Darwen were
claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA), this is higher than the North West rate of 4.4% and
the national rate of 3.9%.
Table 1: Headline Claimant rate in Blackburn with Darwen December 2011.
Claimant rates by gender:
Total Claimants Male Claimants Female claimants
Area
N
Rate
N
Rate
N
Rate
Blackburn with Darwen
4,242
4.8
2,954
6.6
1,228
3.0
North West
196,233
4.4
135,482
6.0
60,751
2.7
Great Britain
1,509,736
3.9
1,014,340
5.2
495,396
2.5
Source: Claimant count, Nomis
The rate equates to a total of 4,242 people claiming JSA in the borough, this being made
up of 2,954 males and 1,228 females. Approximately seven out of ten claimants are male.
The claimant rate of 6.6% for males is higher than the claimant rate for females (3.0%).
Figure 1 illustrates current JSA claimant rates by gender for December 2011.
Figure 1: Job Seekers Allowance Claimant Rate
Rate as a proportion of the 16-64 population
7
6
6.6
Blackburn with Darwen
North West
Great Britain
6
5
5.2
4.8
4
4.4
3.9
%
3
3
2
2.7
2.5
1
0
Male
Female
All People
Source: Claimant counts, www.nomisweb.co.uk
Updated: Monthly
3. Change over time
The December 2011 claimant rate shows that compared to the same month of the
previous year, claimants increased by a fifth, but decreased by 1.4% on November 2011.
Table 2: Monthly and annual change in claimant rates
Claimant rates by gender:
Claimants December 2011 Monthly change
Area
N
Rate
+/+/- %
Male
2,954
6.6
- 44
-1.5%
Female
1,228
3.0
- 17
-1.3%
Total
4,242
4.8
- 61
-1.4%
Source: Jobcentre Plus, Nomis
Annual change
+/+/- %
379
14.7%
345
36.6%
724
20.6%
Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).

The percentage change over the previous month, November 2011, shows a
decrease for both males, females and overall.

The annual change shows 36.6% MORE female claimants, male claimants
increased by a 14.7% during the same period. The overall number of JSA
claimants increased by a fifth.
As illustrated in figure 2, the JSA claimant rate in Blackburn with Darwen has historically
been higher than the North West and Great Britain rate.
Figure 2: Claimant Rate trends
6
Figure 3: On-flows and Off-flows to Claimant Count
Rate: % of 16-64 population
5
4
% 3
2
Blackburn with Darwen
North West
Great Britain
1
Dec-06
Mar-07
Jun-07
Sep-07
Dec-07
Mar-08
Jun-08
Sep-08
Dec-08
Mar-09
Jun-09
Sep-09
Dec-09
Mar-10
Jun-10
Sep-10
Dec-10
Mar-11
Jun-11
Sep-11
Dec-11
0
Source: Claimant counts, www.nomisweb.co.uk
Updated: Monthly
Source: Claimant counts, www.nomisweb.co.uk
Updated: Monthly
4. On and off Flows
In December 2011, 795 people started claiming JSA, and 844 stopped, this equates to
approximately 10.5% fewer people joining and a 3.2% more leaving the claimant count
compared to the same month of the previous year. Compared to November 2011, offflows decreased by approximately 3.7% and on-flows by 5.2.
5. Age and duration of job seekers allowance claimants and claims
The graph below trends claimant rate by gender, as can be seen the claimant rates for
males is higher than that for females.
Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).
The graph below shows claimant count figures by gender indexed to January 2006, it can
be seen that female claimant count rate rose sharply after February 2008 and has
increased at a faster rate than that for males and continues to be at a higher level than
for males.
Over the last month there has been a slight decline in the number of claimants within the
borough by 1.4% or 61 persons, this is reflected in a slight decrease in male and female
claimant rates.
The majority of claimants over a half (56.5%) are between the ages of 25-49, i.e. 25-49 year
olds make up the largest category or JSA claimants. Just over a half of claimants have
been receiving the benefit for 6 months or less. However 580 or nearly 20% claim for over
12 months and are classed as ‘long term unemployed’.
Table 1: Age and duration of job seekers allowance claimants in Blackburn with Darwen
December 2011.
Age of blackburn with Darwen JSA claimants
Claimants
Annual change
Age
N
%
+/+/- %
Aged 18-24
1,160
29.4%
80
7.4%
Aged 25-49
2,225
56.5%
270
13.8%
Aged 50+
555
14.1%
85
18.1%
Duration of Blackburn with Darwen JSA Claimants
Claimants
Duration
N
%
Up to 6 months
1,830
54.9%
Over 6 months and up to 12 months
925
27.7%
Over 12 months
580
17.4%
+/40
375
305
Annual change
+/- %
1.5%
68.2%
110.9%
Figures rounded up or down
Source: Claimant counts, www.nomisweb.co.uk
Updated: Monthly
The number of claimants for 6 months or less has increased by 1.5% over the year, but
those claiming for 6-12 months increased by two thirds and those claiming for over 12
months doubled, increasing by over a 100%.
Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).
18-24 year age claimants have increased by a third since December 2010 and 25-49 year
age by 13.8%. Claimants aged 50+ increased by nearly a fifth.
6. Long term claimants (over 12 months)
People claiming JSA for 12 months or more are classed as long term unemployed. There
are currently 580 long term claimants in Blackburn with Darwen (approximately 1 in 8 of all
claimants), up by 50 on the previous month and 305 annually. Those claiming for 12
months or more have doubled increasing by over 100% since December 2010 and by 10%
on the previous month.
18-24 year old long term claimants have increased five-fold (from 5 to 30), long
term claimants aged 25-49 have doubled (100% - 210 to 420) and long term
claimants aged 50+ have increased by 117% (60 to 130)
The general trend is that long term claimants (12+ months) for each age group are
increasing with 25-49 year olds experiencing the sharpest increase.
Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).
7. Youth unemployment (aged 18-24)
There are currently 1,455 young claimants aged 18-24 in Blackburn with Darwen (A third of
all claimants). The JSA claimant rate for 18-24 year olds is historically higher than the
regional (8.9%) and national average (7.8%).
Claimants aged 18-24 increased by a third over the year but decreased by 1.7% over the
previous month. The graph below shows 18-24 year old claimants by duration indexed to
January 2006. 18-24 year old claimants claiming for 6-12 months grew at a faster rate than
those claiming for less than 6 months.
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79.7% of claimants aged 18-24 were claiming for six months or less.
18-24 year olds claiming for six months or less increased by 18.0% over the year
while those claiming for 6-12 months increased by 175, an increase nearly 200%.
Table 1: 18-24 year old claimant by duration in Blackburn with Darwen
December 2011.
Duration of blackburn with Darwen JSA claimants
Claimants
Annual change
Age
N
%
+/+/- %
< 6 months
1,160
79.7%
180
18.4%
6-12 months
265
18.2%
175
194.4%
12+ months
30
2.1%
25
500.0%
Figures rounded up or down
Source: Claimant counts, www.nomisweb.co.uk
Updated: Monthly
(NB. The increase in 18-24 year old claimants claiming for 12+ months is based on small
numbers).
Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).
8. Claimants aged 50+
Those aged 50+ make up 1 in 8 of all JSA claimants. Over a half of all 50+ claimants
(54.1%) are aged 50-54 and 39.0% are aged 55-59. In total these two sub-groups make up
approximately 93.0% of all the 50+ claimants. A small minority are aged 60 or over.
JSA Claimants aged 50+
Age
50-54
55-59
60 or over
Claimants
N
%
300
54.1%
215
38.7%
40
7.2%
Annual change
+/+/- %
40
15.4%
25
13.2%
20
100.0%
Figures rounded up or down
Source: Claimant counts, www.nomisweb.co.uk
Updated: Monthly
Over the year 50-54 year old claimants increased by over a 15.4%, those aged 55-59.
increased by 13.2%. Those aged over 60 increased by 20, a 100% increase.
(NB, the percentage change for 60+ is based on small numbers).
Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).
9. Job seekers allowance claimant rates across Blackburn with Darwen wards.
Rate
Claimants
Annual
Change
Monthly
change
Audley
6.4
326
19.9%
-1.2%
Bastwell
5.8
272
33.3%
-3.2%
Beardwood with Lammack
1.7
62
47.6%
10.7%
Corporation Park
4.9
210
26.5%
-2.8%
Earcroft
4.5
119
12.3%
-3.3%
East Rural
1.0
12
-14.3%
20.0%
Ewood
5.9
247
27.3%
-2.0%
Fernhurst
1.8
72
46.9%
4.3%
Higher Croft
5.2
246
10.8%
0.0%
Little Harwood
4.9
191
9.1%
1.6%
Livesey with Pleasington
1.7
68
-1.4%
-5.6%
Marsh House
3.4
134
41.1%
1.5%
Meadowhead
4.2
145
10.7%
-2.7%
Mill Hill
6.2
254
18.7%
5.0%
North Turton with Tockholes
1.0
27
-3.6%
-18.2%
Queen's Park
6.0
222
9.9%
-1.3%
Roe Lee
2.6
91
12.3%
-5.2%
Shadsworth with Whitebirk
9.3
455
24.0%
0.9%
Shear Brow
4.5
208
18.2%
-10.0%
Sudell
7.7
314
29.8%
2.3%
Sunnyhurst
3.7
139
32.4%
3.0%
Wensley Fold
8.4
366
17.3%
-7.6%
Whitehall
2.4
62
19.2%
0.0%
20.6%
-1.4%
December 2011
4.8
4,242
Total
Source: Claimant counts, www.nomisweb.co.uk
Updated: Monthly
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Three wards with the highest claimant rates are Shadsworth with Whitebirk (9.3%),
Wensley Fold (8.4%) and Sudell (7.7%).
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Five wards have experienced increases in the claimant count of 30% or more over
the year.
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East Rural, North Turton with Tockholes and Livesey with Pleasington are three wards
that have experienced a decrease in those claiming JSA.
Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).
Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).
Further information
This briefing was prepared by: Saeed Patel
Research and Intelligence Officer
Corporate Research Joint Intelligence
3rd Floor Old Town Hall
saeed.patel@blackburn.gov.uk
01254 58(5106)
Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).