ONS · 11 May 2010 – 8 May 2015

People claiming unemployment-related benefits during the Coalition 2010–2015 government

April 2010 → April 2015 · 60 periods

↓ 46.9%−735,105 people

People claiming unemployment-related benefits fell by 46.9% over the period, from 1,568,130 people (April 2010, the level when the government took office) to 833,025 (April 2015, the last complete period before it left office).

Inherited level April 2010: 1,568,130
Level when it left April 2015: 833,025
method: latest complete period before start / before end

Changes during this period do not by themselves show what the government caused. Statistics reflect many influences, including earlier decisions, the economy and how the data is collected.

Published valueProvisional or revisedLatestDashed line: change in coverage or methodShaded bands: governments (see labels)Hover or use arrow keys to read a value

Definition and caveats

The number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits in the area in the month, as published by the ONS from Department for Work and Pensions systems: Jobseeker's Allowance claimants, and Universal Credit claimants in the "searching for work" conditionality group.

Doesn’t measure: Unemployment. Someone out of work who does not claim is not counted, and someone in work on a low income who claims Universal Credit and must look for more work is. The Labour Force Survey measures unemployment.