News

• 14 June 2018

  New unemployment data for May 2018

  Unemployment figures (Claimant Count, Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)) for May 2018 were released on Tuesday 12 June 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 April 2018 was 7,830 or 2.9% of 16-64 year old population (England 2.1). This represents a decrease of -185 on the previous month, and an increase of +1,885 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 Selby and York have the lowest unemployment (1.2%), with Barnsley and Calderdale the highest (3.4%). The wards with the highest unemployment rate are Dewsbury East and Dewsbury West (4.5%), with Kirkburton the lowest at 0.8%.
  
  Youth unemployment (18-24) stood at 1,565 or 4.0% of the population aged 18-24 (England 3.0%), -20 lower than last month and +265 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, 665 decisions to apply a sanction or claim disallowed ('adverse') were taken by Kirklees Jobcentres, an average of 55 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.
  

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• 04 June 2018

  2016 population projections

  The latest population projections for Kirklees were released recently and cover the period from 2016 to 2041. The Kirklees population is projected to increase from 435,200 in 2016 to 472,200 in 2041 (+36,900, 8.5%). Compared to the previous release in 2014, 2016 shows lower numbers with, for example, 470,000 people projected for 2039 compared to 492,300 in 2014. In the more accurate short-term the 2016-2026 increase is:
  
  Ages 0-15 +700 (1%)
  Ages 16-64 +4,200 (2%)
  Ages 65 and over +13,700 (18%)
  Ages 85 and over + 2,400 (26%)
  All ages +18,500 (4%)
  
  Spreadsheet: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/resource/view?resourceId=4694

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• 21 May 2018

  New unemployment data for April 2018

  Unemployment figures (Claimant Count, Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)) for April 2018 were released on Wednesday 16 May 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 April 2018 was 8,015 or 2.9% of 16-64 year old population (England 2.2%). This represents an increase of +895 on the previous month, and an increase of +1,920 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 Selby and York have the lowest unemployment (1.3%), with Barnsley and Calderdale the highest (3.5%).
  
  Youth unemployment (18-24) stood at 1,585 or 4.0% of the population aged 18-24 (England 3.0%), +105 higher than last month and +195 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.
  

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• 02 May 2018

  New fires data for 2017/18

  New figures for primary and secondary fires are now available in profiles, tables and maps. Primary fires are those where one or more of the following apply: i) all fires in buildings and vehicles that are not derelict or in outdoor structures, ii) any fires; involving casualties or rescues, iii) any fire attended by five or more appliances. Secondary fires are the majority of outdoor fires including grassland and refuse fires, unless they involve casualties or rescues, property loss or unless five or more appliances attend. Accidental fires include those where the cause was not known or unspecified. Deliberate fires include those where deliberate ignition is suspected, but not necessarily witnessed or proven.
  In Kirklees the number of deliberate primary fires decreased from 259 in 2016/17 (5.9 per 10,000 population) to 220 (5.0) in 2017/18 (no England figures available yet for 2017/18); this is in line with trends seen in other West Yorkshire districts. However, deliberate secondary fires increased from 618 in 2016/17 (14.1 per 10,000 population) to 762 (17.4) in 2017/18; this is in line with trends seen for West Yorkshire as a whole, though Calderdale saw a decrease.
  Profile: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/profiles/profile?profileId=263&geoTypeId=
  Table: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/dataviews/view?viewId=560
  

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• 30 April 2018

  KJSA Indicator Table launched

  The KJSA indicator table provides demographic and geographic breakdowns of 55 key indicators covering the four themes within the KJSA. Each indicator is linked to one or more of the seven Kirklees Outcomes as well as highlighting assets and linking indicators to the Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy. Every indicator includes 18 rows (where applicable/available), which reveal how demographic and geographic groups (sex, age, ethnicity, deprivation, district committee areas and CCGs) compare with the Kirklees average. A spine chart highlights statistical differences at a glance and the trend icons reveal if the indicator is improving or getting worse.
  
  
  Indicator Table
  
  http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/DynamicReports/KJSA_Indicator_Tables/atlas.html?&geog=00CZ&select=00CZ
  
  
  
  Help Guide
  
  http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/Custom/Resources/Help_Guide1.pdf

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