ONS · 13 December 2019 – 5 July 2024
People claiming unemployment-related benefits during the Conservative 2019–2024 government
November 2019 → June 2024 · 55 periods
↑ 37.0%+443,390 people
People claiming unemployment-related benefits rose by 37.0% over the period, from 1,196,765 people (November 2019, the level when the government took office) to 1,640,155 (June 2024, the last complete period before it left office). That is an average of +7.1% a year over the term.
- Inherited level November 2019: 1,196,765
- Level when it left June 2024: 1,640,155
- 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.
The chart as a table
| Period | People claiming unemployment-related benefits |
|---|---|
| January 1996 | 2,310,485 people |
| February 1996 | 2,302,965 people |
| March 1996 | 2,230,800 people |
| April 1996 | 2,223,920 people |
| May 1996 | 2,147,365 people |
| June 1996 | 2,096,325 people |
| July 1996 | 2,158,075 people |
| August 1996 | 2,176,450 people |
| September 1996 | 2,103,720 people |
| October 1996 | 1,977,235 people |
| November 1996 | 1,871,400 people |
| December 1996 | 1,868,205 people |
| January 1997 | 1,907,755 people |
| February 1997 | 1,827,785 people |
| March 1997 | 1,745,280 people |
| April 1997 | 1,687,960 people |
| May 1997 | 1,620,495 people |
| June 1997 | 1,550,140 people |
| July 1997 | 1,585,270 people |
| August 1997 | 1,579,210 people |
| September 1997 | 1,513,535 people |
| October 1997 | 1,432,835 people |
| November 1997 | 1,387,650 people |
| December 1997 | 1,391,380 people |
| January 1998 | 1,479,265 people |
| February 1998 | 1,451,245 people |
| March 1998 | 1,405,905 people |
| April 1998 | 1,389,915 people |
| May 1998 | 1,349,375 people |
| June 1998 | 1,322,755 people |
| July 1998 | 1,368,295 people |
| August 1998 | 1,383,195 people |
| September 1998 | 1,334,275 people |
| October 1998 | 1,286,430 people |
| November 1998 | 1,283,870 people |
| December 1998 | 1,293,560 people |
| January 1999 | 1,386,410 people |
| February 1999 | 1,379,125 people |
| March 1999 | 1,346,565 people |
| April 1999 | 1,320,135 people |
| May 1999 | 1,275,610 people |
| June 1999 | 1,244,710 people |
| July 1999 | 1,263,615 people |
| August 1999 | 1,263,200 people |
| September 1999 | 1,223,955 people |
| October 1999 | 1,164,940 people |
| November 1999 | 1,147,170 people |
| December 1999 | 1,140,585 people |
| January 2000 | 1,236,380 people |
| February 2000 | 1,227,000 people |
| March 2000 | 1,194,300 people |
| April 2000 | 1,142,080 people |
| May 2000 | 1,108,180 people |
| June 2000 | 1,077,230 people |
| July 2000 | 1,088,815 people |
| August 2000 | 1,089,060 people |
| September 2000 | 1,042,805 people |
| October 2000 | 1,009,230 people |
| November 2000 | 1,000,580 people |
| December 2000 | 1,011,430 people |
| January 2001 | 1,077,770 people |
| February 2001 | 1,073,350 people |
| March 2001 | 1,041,150 people |
| April 2001 | 1,006,415 people |
| May 2001 | 980,900 people |
| June 2001 | 947,930 people |
| July 2001 | 961,820 people |
| August 2001 | 973,185 people |
| September 2001 | 940,375 people |
| October 2001 | 918,440 people |
| November 2001 | 926,185 people |
| December 2001 | 948,460 people |
| January 2002 | 1,021,465 people |
| February 2002 | 1,024,050 people |
| March 2002 | 998,180 people |
| April 2002 | 982,735 people |
| May 2002 | 954,450 people |
| June 2002 | 937,035 people |
| July 2002 | 956,375 people |
| August 2002 | 962,715 people |
| September 2002 | 936,215 people |
| October 2002 | 907,220 people |
| November 2002 | 905,570 people |
| December 2002 | 919,090 people |
| January 2003 | 998,035 people |
| February 2003 | 1,012,830 people |
| March 2003 | 992,290 people |
| April 2003 | 966,095 people |
| May 2003 | 957,785 people |
| June 2003 | 939,160 people |
| July 2003 | 946,315 people |
| August 2003 | 948,555 people |
| September 2003 | 922,135 people |
| October 2003 | 893,175 people |
| November 2003 | 884,645 people |
| December 2003 | 889,715 people |
| January 2004 | 952,430 people |
| February 2004 | 957,005 people |
| March 2004 | 932,030 people |
| April 2004 | 905,225 people |
| May 2004 | 869,655 people |
| June 2004 | 840,460 people |
| July 2004 | 841,490 people |
| August 2004 | 847,600 people |
| September 2004 | 827,835 people |
| October 2004 | 806,790 people |
| November 2004 | 803,030 people |
| December 2004 | 810,195 people |
| January 2005 | 872,070 people |
| February 2005 | 884,995 people |
| March 2005 | 882,300 people |
| April 2005 | 871,780 people |
| May 2005 | 867,565 people |
| June 2005 | 858,170 people |
| July 2005 | 870,980 people |
| August 2005 | 880,725 people |
| September 2005 | 871,530 people |
| October 2005 | 864,825 people |
| November 2005 | 875,335 people |
| December 2005 | 892,710 people |
| January 2006 | 955,335 people |
| February 2006 | 984,665 people |
| March 2006 | 989,135 people |
| April 2006 | 981,200 people |
| May 2006 | 965,745 people |
| June 2006 | 952,890 people |
| July 2006 | 960,840 people |
| August 2006 | 958,880 people |
| September 2006 | 952,910 people |
| October 2006 | 933,660 people |
| November 2006 | 922,070 people |
| December 2006 | 923,460 people |
| January 2007 | 965,095 people |
| February 2007 | 974,865 people |
| March 2007 | 956,020 people |
| April 2007 | 918,510 people |
| May 2007 | 889,130 people |
| June 2007 | 855,630 people |
| July 2007 | 854,150 people |
| August 2007 | 857,135 people |
| September 2007 | 827,890 people |
| October 2007 | 800,960 people |
| November 2007 | 785,760 people |
| December 2007 | 790,370 people |
| January 2008 | 830,540 people |
| February 2008 | 848,940 people |
| March 2008 | 842,825 people |
| April 2008 | 835,185 people |
| May 2008 | 831,850 people |
| June 2008 | 835,315 people |
| July 2008 | 871,290 people |
| August 2008 | 923,875 people |
| September 2008 | 944,715 people |
| October 2008 | 970,280 people |
| November 2008 | 1,056,145 people |
| December 2008 | 1,153,330 people |
| January 2009 | 1,282,645 people |
| February 2009 | 1,459,840 people |
| March 2009 | 1,523,480 people |
| April 2009 | 1,557,615 people |
| May 2009 | 1,564,980 people |
| June 2009 | 1,553,255 people |
| July 2009 | 1,573,140 people |
| August 2009 | 1,602,190 people |
| September 2009 | 1,591,110 people |
| October 2009 | 1,582,555 people |
| November 2009 | 1,569,445 people |
| December 2009 | 1,567,005 people |
| January 2010 | 1,654,025 people |
| February 2010 | 1,657,040 people |
| March 2010 | 1,614,850 people |
| April 2010 | 1,568,130 people |
| May 2010 | 1,502,155 people |
| June 2010 | 1,444,095 people |
| July 2010 | 1,441,035 people |
| August 2010 | 1,456,025 people |
| September 2010 | 1,439,600 people |
| October 2010 | 1,416,785 people |
| November 2010 | 1,413,265 people |
| December 2010 | 1,425,190 people |
| January 2011 | 1,505,070 people |
| February 2011 | 1,538,185 people |
| March 2011 | 1,526,945 people |
| April 2011 | 1,520,805 people |
| May 2011 | 1,504,915 people |
| June 2011 | 1,493,075 people |
| July 2011 | 1,541,795 people |
| August 2011 | 1,576,835 people |
| September 2011 | 1,578,610 people |
| October 2011 | 1,562,500 people |
| November 2011 | 1,558,755 people |
| December 2011 | 1,568,850 people |
| January 2012 | 1,649,190 people |
| February 2012 | 1,685,990 people |
| March 2012 | 1,666,860 people |
| April 2012 | 1,616,850 people |
| May 2012 | 1,590,710 people |
| June 2012 | 1,564,155 people |
| July 2012 | 1,572,670 people |
| August 2012 | 1,569,925 people |
| September 2012 | 1,552,985 people |
| October 2012 | 1,547,425 people |
| November 2012 | 1,534,985 people |
| December 2012 | 1,523,220 people |
| January 2013 | 1,581,840 people |
| February 2013 | 1,613,790 people |
| March 2013 | 1,584,470 people |
| April 2013 | 1,538,575 people |
| May 2013 | 1,495,780 people |
| June 2013 | 1,439,910 people |
| July 2013 | 1,418,935 people |
| August 2013 | 1,390,400 people |
| September 2013 | 1,326,110 people |
| October 2013 | 1,270,600 people |
| November 2013 | 1,225,105 people |
| December 2013 | 1,203,875 people |
| January 2014 | 1,245,615 people |
| February 2014 | 1,247,095 people |
| March 2014 | 1,200,145 people |
| April 2014 | 1,146,415 people |
| May 2014 | 1,094,135 people |
| June 2014 | 1,024,755 people |
| July 2014 | 1,000,755 people |
| August 2014 | 968,545 people |
| September 2014 | 932,365 people |
| October 2014 | 898,865 people |
| November 2014 | 861,595 people |
| December 2014 | 839,200 people |
| January 2015 | 871,340 people |
| February 2015 | 883,895 people |
| March 2015 | 855,800 people |
| April 2015 | 833,025 people |
| May 2015 | 806,585 people |
| June 2015 | 783,565 people |
| July 2015 | 784,960 people |
| August 2015 | 783,665 people |
| September 2015 | 768,325 people |
| October 2015 | 756,505 people |
| November 2015 | 737,865 people |
| December 2015 | 733,800 people |
| January 2016 | 772,090 people |
| February 2016 | 799,970 people |
| March 2016 | 804,430 people |
| April 2016 | 792,760 people |
| May 2016 | 780,220 people |
| June 2016 | 767,345 people |
| July 2016 | 766,105 people |
| August 2016 | 773,460 people |
| September 2016 | 767,200 people |
| October 2016 | 763,300 people |
| November 2016 | 755,500 people |
| December 2016 | 747,420 people |
| January 2017 | 768,870 people |
| February 2017 | 798,135 people |
| March 2017 | 815,715 people |
| April 2017 | 819,985 people |
| May 2017 | 809,855 people |
| June 2017 | 799,145 people |
| July 2017 | 794,850 people |
| August 2017 | 797,460 people |
| September 2017 | 790,595 people |
| October 2017 | 786,365 people |
| November 2017 | 783,680 people |
| December 2017 | 793,430 people |
| January 2018 | 821,310 people |
| February 2018 | 865,350 people |
| March 2018 | 883,865 people |
| April 2018 | 916,745 people |
| May 2018 | 896,425 people |
| June 2018 | 889,860 people |
| July 2018 | 892,935 people |
| August 2018 | 906,795 people |
| September 2018 | 917,560 people |
| October 2018 | 931,140 people |
| November 2018 | 945,630 people |
| December 2018 | 967,220 people |
| January 2019 | 1,003,670 people |
| February 2019 | 1,062,430 people |
| March 2019 | 1,091,805 people |
| April 2019 | 1,106,610 people |
| May 2019 | 1,112,855 people |
| June 2019 | 1,135,440 people |
| July 2019 | 1,145,690 people |
| August 2019 | 1,163,945 people |
| September 2019 | 1,164,740 people |
| October 2019 | 1,183,895 people |
| November 2019 | 1,196,765 people |
| December 2019 | 1,202,795 people |
| January 2020 | 1,215,555 people |
| February 2020 | 1,255,770 people |
| March 2020 | 1,268,620 people |
| April 2020 | 2,113,560 people |
| May 2020 | 2,661,340 people |
| June 2020 | 2,590,175 people |
| July 2020 | 2,642,815 people |
| August 2020 | 2,688,110 people |
| September 2020 | 2,656,115 people |
| October 2020 | 2,565,320 people |
| November 2020 | 2,604,825 people |
| December 2020 | 2,589,740 people |
| January 2021 | 2,558,550 people |
| February 2021 | 2,678,280 people |
| March 2021 | 2,675,305 people |
| April 2021 | 2,629,480 people |
| May 2021 | 2,462,865 people |
| June 2021 | 2,285,995 people |
| July 2021 | 2,232,760 people |
| August 2021 | 2,144,330 people |
| September 2021 | 2,032,690 people |
| October 2021 | 1,957,735 people |
| November 2021 | 1,881,715 people |
| December 2021 | 1,815,325 people |
| January 2022 | 1,777,485 people |
| February 2022 | 1,776,875 people |
| March 2022 | 1,717,660 people |
| April 2022 | 1,632,180 people |
| May 2022 | 1,582,215 people |
| June 2022 | 1,548,500 people |
| July 2022 | 1,523,345 people |
| August 2022 | 1,520,035 people |
| September 2022 | 1,509,885 people |
| October 2022 | 1,489,340 people |
| November 2022 | 1,504,010 people |
| December 2022 | 1,515,210 people |
| January 2023 | 1,502,820 people |
| February 2023 | 1,526,525 people |
| March 2023 | 1,557,915 people |
| April 2023 | 1,584,450 people |
| May 2023 | 1,529,090 people |
| June 2023 | 1,536,465 people |
| July 2023 | 1,545,730 people |
| August 2023 | 1,529,745 people |
| September 2023 | 1,523,970 people |
| October 2023 | 1,524,915 people |
| November 2023 | 1,535,890 people |
| December 2023 | 1,543,460 people |
| January 2024 | 1,551,970 people |
| February 2024 | 1,595,355 people |
| March 2024 | 1,608,340 people |
| April 2024 | 1,594,025 people |
| May 2024 | 1,605,290 people |
| June 2024 | 1,640,155 people |
| July 2024 | 1,777,620 people |
| August 2024 | 1,772,555 people |
| September 2024 | 1,769,680 people |
| October 2024 | 1,754,330 people |
| November 2024 | 1,726,340 people |
| December 2024 | 1,700,385 people |
| January 2025 | 1,697,365 people |
| February 2025 | 1,750,620 people |
| March 2025 | 1,742,415 people |
| April 2025 | 1,708,420 people |
| May 2025 | 1,691,215 people |
| June 2025 | 1,697,420 people |
| July 2025 | 1,668,595 people |
| August 2025 | 1,663,580 people |
| September 2025 | 1,657,110 people |
| October 2025 | 1,650,220 people |
| November 2025 | 1,636,235 people |
| December 2025 | 1,625,690 people |
| January 2026 | 1,635,860 people |
| February 2026 | 1,686,585 people |
| March 2026 | 1,693,865 people |
| April 2026 | 1,678,250 people |
| May 2026 | 1,677,865 people |
| June 2026 | 1,672,265 people |
| July 2026 | 1,690,970 people |
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.