Rise in number of Moray Universal Credit claimants
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THERE has been a rise in the number of people in Moray claiming Universal Credit (UC) new figures have revealed.
The figures, published by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) cover the period April 21 to May 21 and show a rise in UC claimants from 7140 to 7204. The statistics cover all those claiming UC, not just those who are unemployed.
A rise in the Scotland-wide figures was also recorded with 487,363 UC claimants on May 21 as opposed to 483,305 the month before.
Minister for Employment Mims Davies MP said that there were signs of recovery in an economy which has been battered for over a year by Covid restrictions.
She said: "There are real signs of recovery in the labour market with tens of thousands of work coaches working hard to support people across our growing network of Jobcentres to help build their skills, get interview ready, and find their next roles, with over three quarters of a million vacancies out there.
"Our Plan for Jobs is working, creating new opportunities and boosting job prospects right across the country as jab by jab we lay the foundations to build back better."
Minister for Welfare Delivery Will Quince added: “Universal Credit continues to support those most in need, and claimants are benefitting from individual tailored support to help them back into work, boosted by our multi-billion pound Plan for Jobs.”
To find out more about UC, visit www.gov.uk
In Moray, the DWP are running a number of programmes to help get people back into work. One of these is the Sector Based Work Programmes, otherwise known as SWAPs.
These programmes allow DWP customers direct insight into what a company does, what working for them can offer, training and work experience.
A variety of firms across the region have been participating in SWAP, including Deveron Coaches in Buckie where PCV training has been funded as part of the scheme to fill vacancies at the firm.
A two-week construction course is set to start in early July and will include relevant training required for work in the industry while an Intro to Service Industry programme will run for four weeks and will provide participants with employability skills and sector specific training to allow them to secure employment within the hospitality sector. Aftercare support for 13 weeks post course completion will also be available.
