One in 12 claiming unemployment benefits

One in 13 of Sunderland's working-age population were claiming unemployment benefits last month, according to new figures.

Office for National Statistics data shows 13,135 people were claiming out-of-work benefits as of mid-January – slightly down from 13,408 in December – compared to 8,950 in early March when the coronavirus crisis started.

The January figure means 7.6% of the city's working-age population sought support in January – up from 5.1% nine months earlier.

Those on benefits last month were among roughly 117,000 across the North East.

The figures include those aged 16 to 64 on Jobseeker’s Allowance and some Universal Credit claimants, who are unemployed and seeking work or employed but with low earnings.

National figures, which are adjusted to account for seasonal changes, show about 2.6million people were seeking help towards the beginning of the year – down slightly from 2.62m in December, but well up from 1.24m in March 2020.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has pledged job support plans in the Budget next week but Rebecca McDonald, senior economist at anti-poverty charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), said the figures are a reminder that "the journey to economic recovery will be long".

She said: "Unemployment is high and millions are already relying on Universal Credit to keep their heads above water. That number will only grow as furlough is unwound and unemployment peaks later this year."

The JRF is urging Mr Sunak to "reflect" on the temporary £20 weekly rise in Universal Credit.