THE total number of people on Universal Credit and looking for work across Worcester is the worst in the county according to new figures from the Department for Work and Pensions.
The city’s jobless figure has risen 112 per cent in the past 12 months by 1,964 to 3,723 compared to January 2020.
For 18 to 24 year olds in the city the increase is 431 to 720, a rise of 149 per cent.
It’s a story reflected across the county in the past 12 months as the country was battered by Covid-19.
Wychavon district has lept 2,034 to 3,405 in the past year, according to the figures with 18 to 24 years looking for work increasing by 211 per cent or 461 to 680 over the same period.
Neighbouring Redditch has seen the figure rise by 1,914 to 3,399. The 129 per cent rise is closely mirrored by the increase in 19 to 24-year-olds out of work which has risen by 340 to 619 since January 2020.
In Bromsgrove, the number of 18 to 24 year olds claiming and looking for work has grown by 148 per cent, an increase of 300 to 503, while the total number of claimants has reached 2,716, up 1,557, an increase of 134 per cent.
A spokesperson for the county’s Job Centres said: “These are unprecedented times and all our work coaches are working incredibly hard to offer tailored provision job support schemes.
“We are also pushing our sector based work academies while the government’s Kickstart programme has had a positive response from employers.
“And with the road map out of Covid now published the hospitality sector is sure to be looking at re-opening.”
