More people in Lancashire claiming benefits as corononavirus hits the jobs market

As the country's unemployment rate rose to 4.8 per cent during the three months between July and September as people were made redundant, the most for any three month period on record, the region too saw a rise in unemployment with the figure now at 4.6 per cent.

Under the monthly figures, the number of people forced to claim benefits due to lack of work has risen right across the county.

The number of people claiming work-age related benefits such as Universal Credit in the North West in October was 316,070. That number represents 6.9 per cent of the population, a figure 3.4 per cent higher than the same month last year.

In the Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency, 4,385 people were claiming benefits in October, representing 8.9 per cent of the population there. This figure was up 4.2 per cent on the same month in 2019.

In Blackpool South, there were 5,990 claiming benefits, 12.2 per cent of the population, a figure up 5.5 per cent on the same month the previous year. This was the highest rate for any constituency in the North West.

In Preston, there were 5,285 claimants, 8.1 per cent of the population, up 3.7 per cent on October last year.

In Fylde, there were 2,615 claimants, 5.3 per cent of the population, up 3.2 per cent on last year.

In Wyre and Preston North, there were 1,850 claimants, 3.6 per cent of the population, up 2.3 per cent on last year.

Lancaster and Fleetwood had 2,970 claiming or 4.9 per cent of the population, up 2.3 per cent on last year.

Chorley had 3,015 claimants, 4.7 per cent of the population and up 2.4 per cent on 2019.

In South Ribble there were 2,290 claimants, 3.8 per cent of the population, up 2 per cent on last year.

The Ribble Valley had 2,210 people claiming benefits, 3.7 per cent of the population up 2.3 per cent on the same month last year.

Ben Harrison, director of the Work Foundation based at Lancaster University School of Management, said: “Today’s labour market update shows an economy performing significantly below pre-pandemic levels, despite the fact much of the data precedes the introduction of tiered restrictions in October and the latest national lockdown in November.

“Redundancies reached a record high of 314,000 in the three months to September, an increase of 181,000 on the quarter, and while vacancies increased by 146,000 compare to the last quarter, they remain 35% lower than they were in the same period last year.

“With so many having already lost their job and a hugely challenging winter to come, it’s vital that the Government strengthens our social safety net so that people can get the support they need.

“This should begin by reversing plans to cut essential Universal Credit payments by £20 per week and removing the threat of sanctions for those looking for work in these challenging circumstances.”