Published: June 2016
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 (Feb – May 2016) |
Annual Change (May 2015 -16) |
Somerset |
0.8 |
-0.1 |
-0.2 |
Mendip |
0.7 |
0.0 |
-0.1 |
Sedgemoor |
1.0 |
-0.2 |
-0.3 |
South Somerset |
0.7 |
0.0 |
-0.1 |
Taunton Deane |
0.9 |
-0.1 |
-0.2 |
West Somerset |
0.5 |
-0.2 |
-0.2 |
HOSW LEP |
1.0 |
-0.2 |
-0.1 |
UK |
1.5 |
-0.1 |
-0.4 |
Source: Claimant count with rates and proportions, NOMIS 2016
In May 2016, 0.8% of people in Somerset aged 16-64 were claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA). Sedgemoor has the highest claimant rate in Somerset (1.0%) and West Somerset has the lowest (0.5%). Sedgemoor, West Somerset and Taunton Deane all saw a fall in Claimants over the quarter. Claimant rates have also dropped in all five districts, with Sedgemoor having the largest fall in claimants over the year.
Source: Claimant count with rates and proportions, NOMIS 2016
Somerset has a consistently lower claimant rate than the UK and Heart of the South West LEP area.
Somerset’s claimant rate is steadily declining
% of residents aged 16-64 who are unemployed
Area |
Current unemployment rate (%) |
Qtrly Change (Sept - Dec 2015) |
Annual Change (Dec 14 - 2015) |
Somerset |
3.7 |
-0.2 |
-1.5 |
Mendip |
3.5 |
0.4 |
-0.6 |
Sedgemoor |
2.7 |
-2.5 |
-5.1 |
South Somerset |
3.7 |
0.4 |
-1.1 |
Taunton Deane |
4.7 |
0.4 |
-0.1 |
West Somerset |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Heart of the South West LEP |
4.0 |
0.0 |
-1.0 |
UK |
5.4 |
-0.2 |
-1.0 |
Source: Annual population survey, NOMIS 2016 (Data unavailable where the sample size is disclosive).
Source: Annual population survey, NOMIS 2016
Somerset’s unemployment rate is consistently lower than the national level. After peaking at 8% in December 2010, the general trend has been downwards but fluctuations in the last year show the rate increasing slightly and then falling. Over the same period, the UK unemployment rate remained constant, with signs of a declining trend from September 2013.
Area |
Current economic inactivity rate (%) |
Qtrly change (Sept- Dec 2015) |
Annual Change (Dec 2014 - 2015) |
% of economically inactive who want a job |
Qtrly change (Sept - Dec 2015) |
Annual Change (Dec 2014-2015) |
Somerset |
18.7 |
0.9 |
-0.3 |
29.0 |
1.9 |
3.7 |
Mendip |
21.4 |
0.7 |
1.3 |
30.4 |
5.1 |
1.7 |
Sedgemoor |
19.9 |
0.1 |
0.7 |
31.1 |
-3.4 |
2.5 |
South Somerset |
16.3 |
-0.4 |
-3.2 |
21.0 |
1.9 |
0.5 |
Taunton Deane |
19.1 |
2.7 |
3.8 |
33.8 |
3.0 |
8.7 |
West Somerset |
15.7 |
5.2 |
-10.9 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
HoSW LEP |
19.5 |
0.2 |
-0.8 |
26.6 |
1.2 |
0.0 |
UK |
22.3 |
-0.2 |
-0.5 |
24.1 |
0.1 |
-0.6 |
Source: Annual population survey, NOMIS 2016. NB. Some data unavailable due to small sample size.
Somerset’s economic inactivity rate is lower than nationally. Mendip has the highest proportion of economically inactive residents (21.4%), closely followed by Sedgemoor (19.9%) and Taunton Deane (19.1%). West Somerset has the lowest economic inactivity rate (15.7%). Taunton Deane has the highest proportion of economically inactive persons who want a job.
76% of Somerset’s businesses have fewer than 5 employees