Moray outperforms national trend as benefit claims continue to fall
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MORAY continues to outperform the rest of Scotland in terms of falling levels of benefits claims, new figures have revealed.
Year-on-year statistics for January released by the Department of Work and Pensions show that overall claims in the region fell by 155 or 11 per cent to 1260.
There were particularly encouraging figures in the 18-24 and over-50 age categories. In the former, the number of claimants fell from 260 to 220, a drop of 15 per cent, while in the latter the figure was 13 per cent lower at 315, down 45.
Nationally, there was a fall of three per cent across the board, the latest figure standing at 105,890, a drop of 3635. A rise of one per cent –115 – was recorded among 18-24-year-olds while the downward trend continued on the over-50s, falling 2582 to 23,185 or 10 per cent.
Jane Munro, Employer and Partnership Manager for Moray Jobcentres, said: “Across our Jobcentres, work coaches are focussed on providing every jobseeker with tailored support, helping to build confidence and develop new skills, so breaking down the barriers for those re-entering employment.
"Increasing the labour force is a key activity to support businesses fill their vacancies and to grow the economy.
“Locally we’ve been working with Global Highland, Brodie Castle, GT Tyres. For work coaches it’s really inspiring to see how the help they give to individual jobseekers makes a positive difference to their life. For those on Universal Credit more financial support is available, as people can keep more of what they earn, while parents can receive increased childcare payments.
“Meanwhile jobseekers can find their perfect match by searching our DWP ‘FindaJob’ website, which has thousands of jobs on offer or follow Moray Works on Facebook."
Minister for Employment Jo Churchill MP commented: “With unemployment at just 3.8 per cent and payroll employment at a record high, we are helping many more people access work and all the benefits it brings be it financial, health or social.
“Our pioneering welfare reforms are going further, helping reduce the number of people who would otherwise be on the highest tier of incapacity benefits by 370,000 and tearing down barriers to work for millions of disabled people through our Chance to Work Guarantee.
“Meanwhile our £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan will drive down inactivity, grow the economy and change lives.”
She added that benefits will be increased by 6.7 per cent and pensions by 8.5 per cent from April.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “It’s encouraging to see that Scotland’s labour market remains resilient. In January 2024, the number of people on company payrolls in Scotland increased to a new record high of 2.46million.
“We’ve halved inflation to help achieve long-term sustainable growth and our £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan is removing barriers to employment meaning fewer people are inactive. It’s changing lives.
“We’re also putting more money in the pockets of hard-working Scottish families by reducing National Insurance contributions and from April we’ll see the biggest ever rise to the National Living Wage.
“These measures, together with the £2.9 billion we’re investing into the heart of communities across Scotland, will continue to create new jobs and new opportunities.”
