Out-of-work benefit claimants rise in Cumbria

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 13:30 · Archive

Out-of-work benefit claimants in Cumbria increased by 140 in August to 6,565.

Out-of-work benefit claimants in Cumbria rose by 140 in August, bringing the total to 6,565, according to data from the Cumbria Combined Authority's September labour market briefing. The figures cover those claiming Job Seekers Allowance or Universal Credit whilst required to seek work, but do not include those claiming Universal Credit whilst in work.

Cumbria's claimant rate remained at 2.2 per cent in August, unchanged from the previous month and below the UK rate of 3.9 per cent. However, year-on-year the position has worsened, with the count 225 higher than August 2025 and the rate up 0.1 percentage points.

Claimant numbers increased across all former districts in the county except Eden. Eden recorded 495 people claiming out-of-work benefits, with a rate of 1.5 per cent per capita, a decrease of five claimants and a fall in the rate of 1.2 percentage points.

Payrolled employment in Cumbria also declined. Provisional figures estimate 223,536 Cumbrian residents were in payrolled employment in August, a drop of 294 from July. The total was 2,179 lower than in August 2025, indicating a significant decline in employment numbers over the year.

How it is being reported

• Out-of-work benefit claimants increase across county and payrolled employment fallsClaimants of out-of-work benefits have increased in Cumbria recently, according to new labour market data on the county's economy and workforce.Westmorland Gazette · 16 Oct, 13:01
• Out-of-work benefit claimants increase across county and payrolled employment fallsClaimants of out-of-work benefits have increased in Cumbria recently, according to new labour market data on the county's economy and workforce.Cumberland News · 16 Oct, 13:01
• Out-of-work benefit claimants increase across county and payrolled employment fallsClaimants of out-of-work benefits have increased in Cumbria recently, according to new labour market data on the county's economy and workforce.Whitehaven News · 16 Oct, 13:01
• Out-of-work benefit claimants increase across county and payrolled employment fallsClaimants of out-of-work benefits have increased in Cumbria recently, according to new labour market data on the county's economy and workforce.NW Evening Mail · 16 Oct, 13:01

In this story: Cumbria · Eden · Cumbria Combined Authority · United Kingdom

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