Published: June 2014
Unemployment is an important indicator of the state of the economy. There are several measures which can be used to show levels of unemployment and economic inactivity:
% of residents aged 16-64 claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
Area |
Current claimant rate (%) |
Qtrly change (Dec 2013-Mar 2014) |
Annual change (Mar 2013-2014) |
Somerset |
1.7 |
0.0 |
-0.6 |
Mendip |
1.5 |
0.1 |
-0.5 |
Sedgemoor |
2.5 |
-0.1 |
-0.5 |
South Somerset |
1.3 |
0.0 |
-0.5 |
Taunton Deane |
1.8 |
0.0 |
-0.6 |
West Somerset |
1.5 |
-0.3 |
-0.8 |
Heart of the South West LEP |
1.9 |
0.0 |
-0.7 |
UK |
2.9 |
0.0 |
-1.0 |
Source: Claimant count with rates and proportions, NOMIS 2014
Claimant count unemployment in Somerset has levelled off, with no change since the last quarter. In March 2014, 1.7% of people in Somerset aged 16-64 were claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), compared to 2.3% the previous year. Sedgemoor has the highest claimant rate in Somerset (2.5%) and South Somerset has the lowest (1.3%). Between March 2013 and March 2014, claimant rates have dropped in all Somerset’s districts.
Somerset has a consistently lower claimant rate than the UK and Heart of the South West LEP area.
Somerset’s claimant rate has declined steadily since March 2013 but it has yet to return to the pre-recession levels evident in early 2008.
% of residents aged 16-64 who are unemployed
Area |
Current unemployment rate (%) |
Annual change (Dec 2012-2013) |
Somerset |
4.6 |
0.4 |
Mendip |
5.4 |
1.4 |
Sedgemoor |
8.1 |
1.9 |
South Somerset |
2.8 |
-2.0 |
Taunton Deane |
2.4 |
N/A |
West Somerset |
N/A |
N/A |
Heart of the South West LEP |
5.9 |
0.3 |
UK |
7.7 |
-0.3 |
Source: Annual population survey, NOMIS 2014 (Data unavailable where the sample size is disclosive).
ILO unemployment in Somerset stood at 4.6% in September 2013, lower than in the Heart of the South West area (5.9%) and UK as a whole (7.7%). Available data shows that within the County, Sedgemoor had the highest unemployment rate (8.1%).
Somerset’s unemployment rate is lower than at national and LEP level.
After peaking at 7.5% in Sept 2010, Somerset’s unemployment rate has been falling steadily until December 2013, where a small annual increase can be seen. Over the same period, the UK unemployment rate remained constant.
Area |
Current economic inactivity rate (%) |
Annual change (Dec 2012-2013) |
% of economically inactive who want a job |
Annual change (Dec 2012-2013) |
Somerset |
19.8 |
-2.3 |
21.9 |
-5.5 |
Mendip |
25.2 |
5.1 |
22.1 |
-16.2 |
Sedgemoor |
15.0 |
-11.8 |
21.9 |
-0.5 |
South Somerset |
18.4 |
-4.4 |
21.0 |
-9 |
Taunton Deane |
18.5 |
2.4 |
29.3 |
4.3 |
West Somerset |
30.9 |
1 |
N/A |
N/A |
Heart of the South West LEP |
20.6 |
-1.1 |
28.9 |
2.7 |
UK |
22.7 |
-0.5 |
24.0 |
-0.6 |
Source: Annual population survey, NOMIS 2014
Somerset’s economic inactivity rate is lower than nationally but there are variations within the County. West Somerset has the highest level of economically inactive residents (30.9%), which reflects the older age profile of the area in terms of more retirees. Sedgemoor has the lowest economic inactivity rate (15%) whereas Taunton Deane has the highest proportion of inactive residents who want a job (29.3%).
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