The number of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimants fell by over 40,000 during the last month, with Birmingham seeing the largest annual drop.
Figures suggest JSA claims fell in every local authority in Great Britain over the last year, the first time this has occurred since the end of 1997.
Over 5,000 fewer people were claiming JSA in Birmingham in September 2013 than at the same point last year, with Glasgow charting a 3,485 reduction in claimants and County Durham seeing a 2,920 drop.
Jobseeker’s Allowance claims fell in every council in Great Britain over the last year. Stratford-on-Avon saw the highest proportional reduction in the 12 months to September, seeing a 35% drop in JSA claimants.
Three Northern Irish regions saw the only rises in JSA claimants over the last year, with 7% rises charted in Strabane, 2% in Magherafelt and 1% in Derry.
Minister for employment, Esther McVey, said: ‘The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance is down in every local authority over the past year. Off the back of a global recession, this is not something that should be sniffed at.
‘It’s a huge testament to the tenacity and determination of business owners and workers in this country.’
