News

• 20 April 2018

  New unemployment data for March 2018

  Unemployment figures (Claimant Count, Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)) for March 2018 were released on Wednesday 18 April 2018 by the Department of Works and Pensions, and are now available in profiles, tables and maps. Figures shown use the headline 'Claimant Count' indicator introduced in October 2015, which counts the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance plus those who claim Universal Credit who are out of work.
  
  Profile: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/profiles/profile?profileId=124&geoTypeId=
  Table: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/dataviews/view?viewId=555
  
  The unemployment total for Kirklees in February 2018 was 7,120 or 2.6% of 16-64 year old population (England 2.1%). This represents an increase of +495 on the previous month, and an increase of +1,085 claimants on the same time last year; the lowest number of claimants in recent years was in December 2016 (5,380). However, under Universal Credit a broader span of claimants are required to look for work than under Jobseeker's Allowance. As Universal Credit Full Service is rolled out in particular areas, the number of people recorded as being on the Claimant Count is therefore likely to rise.
  
  The number unemployed January 2008 to date peaked in February 2013 (13,440). In the Leeds City Region York has the lowest unemployment (1.2%), with Calderdale and Barnsley the highest (3.2%).
  
  Youth unemployment (18-24) stood at 1,480 or 3.7% of the population aged 18-24 (England 2.9%), +110 higher than last month and +65 higher than the same time last year. However, the claimant count underestimates youth unemployment as not everyone is entitled to benefit or chooses to claim. From the Annual Population Survey it is estimated that the number of young people unemployed in West Yorkshire is over two times higher than the claimant count.
  
  Over the period July 2016 to June 2017, 866 decisions to apply a sanction or claim disallowed ('adverse') were taken by Kirklees Jobcentres, an average of 72 per month (Source: Gov.uk). This figure does not, however, include those who are claiming Universal Credit and have received a sanction or claim disallowed ('adverse').
  
  There are two ways of measuring unemployment. The alternative method to the claimant count is the Annual Population Survey which is less accurate, but counts people who are not eligible for benefit that are out of work and actively seeking work. In Kirklees the latest model-based unemployment figure was 10,000 or 4.7% of those aged 16 and over and economically active (England 4.4%). However, confidence intervals reveal that the true number unemployed for Kirklees could lie between 7,600 and 12,400 (3.6% to %5.8), so this helps to show why this measure is not often quoted; nevertheless the trend has been downwards, and the latest figure for people surveyed between January 2016 and December 2017 is statistically significantly lower than January 2012 and December 2013.
  

  ---

• 23 March 2018

  Updated migration figures (National Insurance Number (NINO) Registrations

  Migration figures using National Insurance Number (NINO) Registrations as a proxy have been updated and are available in profiles, tables and maps.
  
  
  Profile: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/profiles/profile?profileId=259&geoTypeId=
  Table and maps: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/dataviews/view?viewId=581
  
  
  In Kirklees NINO registrations peaked in 2007-08 at 2,650, though the years following saw no year below 1,841 with most years seeing above 2,000 registrations. In 2016-17 which saw around 2360 registrations, nearly 60% of all registrations were EU national. 24% were EU Accession State nationals (The eight accession states are Estonia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovenia). Asia & Middle East nationals formed 26% of the total followed by African (10%). Other countries accounted for around 4%.
  In Kirklees the highest number of registrations were found in Middle Super Output Areas (MSOAs) located in Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Batley and Heckmondwike, where low property rents and employment is located. Ravensthorpe saw the most registrations with 282 in 2016-17.
  

  ---

• 21 March 2018

  New unemployment data for February 2018

  Unemployment figures (Claimant Count, Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)) for February 2018 were released on Wednesday 21 March 2018 by the Department of Works and Pensions, and are now available in profiles, tables and maps. Figures shown use the headline 'Claimant Count' indicator introduced in October 2015, which counts the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance plus those who claim Universal Credit who are out of work.
  
  Profile: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/profiles/profile?profileId=124&geoTypeId=
  Table: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/dataviews/view?viewId=555
  
  The unemployment total for Kirklees in February 2018 was 6,625 or 2.4% of 16-64 year old population (England 2.0%). This represents an increase of +440 on the previous month, and an increase of +720 claimants on the same time last year; the lowest number of claimants in recent years was in December 2016 (5,380). However, under Universal Credit a broader span of claimants are required to look for work than under Jobseeker's Allowance. As Universal Credit Full Service is rolled out in particular areas, the number of people recorded as being on the Claimant Count is therefore likely to rise.
  The number unemployed January 2008 to date peaked in February 2013 (13,440). In the Leeds City Region York has the lowest unemployment (1.1%), with Calderdale and Barnsley the highest (3.1%).
  
  Youth unemployment (18-24) stood at 1,370 or 3.5% of the population aged 18-24 (England 2.8%), +115 higher than last month and +20 higher than the same time last year. However, the claimant count underestimates youth unemployment as not everyone is entitled to benefit or chooses to claim. From the Annual Population Survey it is estimated that the number of young people unemployed in West Yorkshire is around three times higher than the claimant count.
  
  Over the period July 2016 to June 2017, 866 decisions to apply a sanction or claim disallowed ('adverse') were taken by Kirklees Jobcentres, an average of 72 per month (Source: Gov.uk). This figure does not, however, include those who are claiming Universal Credit and have received a sanction or claim disallowed ('adverse').
  
  There are two ways of measuring unemployment. The alternative method to the claimant count is the Annual Population Survey which is less accurate, but counts people who are not eligible for benefit that are out of work and actively seeking work. In Kirklees the latest model-based unemployment figure was 10,200 or 4.8% of those aged 16 and over and economically active (England 4.5%). However, confidence intervals reveal that the true number unemployed for Kirklees could lie between 7,900 and 12,500 (3.7% to 5.9), so this helps to show why this measure is not often quoted; nevertheless the trend has been downwards, and the latest figure for people surveyed between October 2016 and September 2017 is statistically significantly lower than October 2012 and September 2013.
  

  ---

• 16 March 2018

  Updated house price paid data (HM Land Registry)

  House price paid data for January – December 2017 added and appears in the following:
  
  Profile: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/profiles/profile?profileId=139
  Table: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/dataviews/view?viewId=120
  
  Mean house prices climbed to a new high of around £165,300 during 2017, mean prices had declined to a low of around £144,000 in 2011 for all types. Kirkburton ward had the highest mean price across all types at around £264,000, Newsome the lowest at around £115,000. Lindley ward had the highest number of sales (428) with Dewsbury South the lowest (186); Kirklees had around 6,400 sales (peak years were 2006 and 2007 with around 9,500 sales). The highest price paid in 2017 was £2,200,000 for a detached house in Drub Lane near Cleckheaton.
  
  Median house prices for Kirklees rose from £138,000 in 2016 (all house types) to £140,000 in 2016. Median prices for detached house were £259,950, flats £73,623, semi-detached £146,000 and terraced £107,000.
  
  In the Leeds City Region, Harrogate had the highest mean price for all property types of around £335,600, with Barnsley the lowest at around £131,500 (England £295,800). Detached houses in the centre of Harrogate had a mean price of around £957,500 based on 22 sales.
  
  The price paid data is subject to revision as new records are added for transactions which took place months or years previously. HM Land Registry also publishes average (mean) prices for Local Authorities (House Price Index), but these are calculated using a different methodology (repeat sales of the same property) and are considerably lower. The House Price Index mean for all property types has recovered to above the December 2007 high of £146,442 (Dec 2017, £149,295).
  

  ---

• 01 March 2018

  New unemployment data for January 2018

  Unemployment figures (Claimant Count, Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)) for January 2018 were released on Wednesday 21 February 2018 by the Department of Works and Pensions, and are now available in profiles, tables and maps. Figures shown use the headline 'Claimant Count' indicator introduced in October 2015, which counts the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance plus those who claim Universal Credit who are out of work.
  
  Profile: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/profiles/profile?profileId=124&geoTypeId=
  Table: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/dataviews/view?viewId=555
  
  The unemployment total for Kirklees in January 2018 was 6,105 or 2.2% of 16-64 year old population (England 1.9%). This represents an increase of +365 on the previous month, and an increase of +445 claimants on the same time last year; the lowest number of claimants in recent years was in December 2016 (5,380). The number unemployed January 2008 to date peaked in February 2013 (13,440). In the Leeds City Region York has the lowest unemployment (1.0%), with Calderdale the highest (2.9%).
  
  Youth unemployment (18-24) stood at 1,215 or 3.1% of the population aged 18-24 (England 2.6%), +15 higher than last month and -50 lower than the same time last year. However, the claimant count underestimates youth unemployment as not everyone is entitled to benefit or chooses to claim. From the Annual Population Survey it is estimated that the number of young people unemployed in West Yorkshire is around three times higher than the claimant count.
  
  Over the period July 2016 to June 2017, 866 decisions to apply a sanction or claim disallowed ('adverse') were taken by Kirklees Jobcentres, an average of 72 per month (Source: Gov.uk). This figure does not, however, include those who are claiming Universal Credit and have received a sanction or claim disallowed ('adverse').
  
  There are two ways of measuring unemployment. The alternative method to the claimant count is the Annual Population Survey which is less accurate, but counts people who are not eligible for benefit that are out of work and actively seeking work. In Kirklees the latest model-based unemployment figure was 10,200 or 4.8% of those aged 16 and over and economically active (England 4.5%). However, confidence intervals reveal that the true number unemployed for Kirklees could lie between 7,900 and 12,500 (3.7% to 5.9), so this helps to show why this measure is not often quoted; nevertheless the trend has been downwards, and the latest figure for people surveyed between October 2016 and September 2017 is statistically significantly lower than October 2012 and September 2013.
  

  ---