News

• 18 April 2019

  Kirklees unemployment increases slightly by 95 to 9,370 (March 2019)

  Unemployment figures (Claimant Count, Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)) for March 2019 were released on Tuesday 17 April 2019 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 March 2019 was 9,370 or 3.5% of 16-64 year old population (England 2.6%). This represents an increase of +95 on the previous month, and an increase of +2,250 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. Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees are further on in this process compared to other Leeds City Region districts.
  
  The number unemployed January 2008 to date peaked in February 2013 (13,440). In the Leeds City Region Craven has the lowest unemployment (1.3%), with Bradford the highest (4.1%). The ward with the highest unemployment rate is Dewsbury West (5.5%), with Kirkburton the lowest at 1.0%.
  
  Youth unemployment (18-24) stood at 1,930 or 5.0% of the population aged 18-24 (England 3.5%), +10 higher than last month and +450 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 twice as high compared to the claimant count.
  
  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 10,300 or 4.9% of those aged 16 and over and economically active (England 4.1%). However, confidence intervals reveal that the true number unemployed for Kirklees could lie between 12,800 and 7,800 (3.7% to 6.1%), 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 2018 and December 2018 is statistically significantly lower than January 2011 and December 2011.
  

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• 11 April 2019

  Updated house price paid data (HM Land Registry)

  House price paid data for January – December 2018 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 in Kirklees climbed to a new high of around £172,500 during 2018, mean prices had declined to a low of around £144,000 in 2011 for all types. Holme Valley South ward had the highest mean price across all types at around £260,300, Dewsbury West the lowest at around £114,700. Lindley ward had the highest number of sales (410) with Dewsbury South the lowest (159); Kirklees had around 6,500 sales (peak years were 2006 and 2007 with around 9,500 sales). The highest price paid in 2018 was £1,500,000 for a detached house in Upper Batley.
  
  Median house prices for Kirklees rose from £140,000 in 2017 (all house types) to £145,000 in 2018. Median prices for detached house were £270,000, flats £89,950, semi-detached £151,000 and terraced £110,000.
  
  In the Leeds City Region, Harrogate had the highest mean price for all property types of around £325,200, with Barnsley the lowest at around £143,500 (England £300,600). Detached houses in the centre of Harrogate had a mean price of around £801,200 based on 16 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 (Jan 2019, £148,301).
  

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• 21 March 2019

  GCSE results updated with 2018

  GCSE results for the following indicators have been updated with 2018 data:
  
  Pupils at the end of Key Stage 4
  
  % Pupils achieving English and mathematics GCSEs 9-5
  
  Attainment 8 score
  
  In 2018 42.5% of pupils educated in Kirklees LEA schools achieved GCSE passes in both English and mathematics at scales 9-5 (England 2018 40.2%). Last year’s headline measure (% achieving 5 or more GCSE passes at A*-C (including English and maths)) is no longer used and is not available for comparison purposes. In West Yorkshire, Calderdale had the highest rate at 47.9% with Bradford the lowest at 36.2%.
  The source of the data is Kirklees Council and Department of Education Performance Tables.
  Click on this link to access tables and maps: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/dataviews/view?viewId=172
  Click on this link to access profiles: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/profiles/profile?profileId=260
  

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• 20 March 2019

  Kirklees unemployment increases sharply by 380 to 9,275 (February 2019)

  Unemployment figures (Claimant Count, Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)) for February 2019 were released on Tuesday 19 March 2019 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 2019 was 9,275 or 3.4% of 16-64 year old population (England 2.5). This represents an increase of +380 on the previous month, and an increase of +2,650 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. Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees are further on in this process compared to other Leeds City Region districts.
  
  The number unemployed January 2008 to date peaked in February 2013 (13,440). In the Leeds City Region York has the lowest unemployment (1.3%), with Bradford the highest (3.9%). The ward with the highest unemployment rate is Dewsbury West (5.3%), with Kirkburton the lowest at 1.0%.
  
  Youth unemployment (18-24) stood at 1,920 or 5.0% of the population aged 18-24 (England 3.2%), +125 higher than last month and +550 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.
  
  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 10,400 or 4.9% of those aged 16 and over and economically active (England 4.2%). However, confidence intervals reveal that the true number unemployed for Kirklees could lie between 12,800 and 8,000 (3.8% to 6.0%), 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 2017 and September 2018 is statistically significantly lower than October 2011 and September 2011.
  

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• 28 February 2019

  Kirklees unemployment increases slightly by 45 to 8,895 (January 2019)

  Unemployment figures (Claimant Count, Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)) for January 2019 were released on Tuesday 19 February 2019 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 2019 was 8,895 or 3.3% of 16-64 year old population (England 2.4). This represents an increase of +45 on the previous month, and an increase of +2,710 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. Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees are further on in this process compared to other Leeds City Region districts.
  
  The number unemployed January 2008 to date peaked in February 2013 (13,440). In the Leeds City Region York has the lowest unemployment (1.3%), with Bradford the highest (3.8%). The ward with the highest unemployment rate is Dewsbury West (5.3%), with Kirkburton the lowest at 0.9%.
  
  Youth unemployment (18-24) stood at 1,795 or 4.7% of the population aged 18-24 (England 3.2%), -50 lower than last month and +540 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.
  
  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 10,400 or 4.9% of those aged 16 and over and economically active (England 4.2%). However, confidence intervals reveal that the true number unemployed for Kirklees could lie between 12,800 and 8,000 (3.8% to 6.0%), 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 2017 and September 2018 is statistically significantly lower than October 2011 and September 2011.
  

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