Brent among top UK areas for unemployment benefits

A new study has revealed the UK areas claiming the most unemployment benefits, with Birmingham taking the top spot. 

Financial website Afforda analysed data from the Office for National Statistics to find the total number of unemployment benefits claims per UK local authority in October 2024. This figure was weighed against the working age population (between 16 and 65) to calculate the number of claimants per 100,000 residents. The local authorities with the highest rate of unemployment benefits claims determined the final ranking. 

Birmingham tops the ranking, with 10,749.64 unemployment benefits claims per 100,000 residents. Birmingham recorded a total of 81,375 claimants in October 2024, representing a 29.93% increase from the 2023 figure of 8,273.43 claims per 100,000 people. 

In second place is Newham, with a rate of 8,466.63 unemployment benefits claims per 100,000 residents. In October 2024, Newham recorded 21,850 claimants and showed an increase in claims of 30.37% from 6,494.31 per 100,000 people in 2023. 

Third in the ranking is Bradford, with unemployment benefits claims equating to 8,324.42 per 100,000 residents. With a total of 29,030 claimants in October 2024, Bradford experienced a 33.04% increase from 2023, which stood at 6,256.94 unemployment benefits claims per 100,000 people. 

Barking and Dagenham places fourth, with 8,211.12 unemployment benefits claims per 100,000 residents. Barking and Dagenham recorded a total of 11,920 claimants in October 2024, representing a 23.27% increase from the 2023 figure of 6,661.20 claims per 100,000 people. 

In fifth comes Wolverhampton, with a rate of 7,968.77 unemployment benefits claims per 100,000 residents. In October 2024, Wolverhampton recorded 13,525 claimants and showed an increase in claims of 12.19% from 7,102.67 per 100,000 people in 2023. 

Brent comes in sixth, with unemployment benefits claims equating to 7,933.81 per 100,000 residents. With a total of 18,905 claimants in October 2024, Brent experienced a 26.16% increase from 2023, which stood at 6,288.71 unemployment benefits claims per 100,000 people. 

Seventh on the list is Haringey, with 7,931.27 unemployment benefits claims per 100,000 residents. Haringey recorded a total of 14,915 claimants in October 2024, representing an 18.33% increase from the 2023 figure of 6,702.90 claims per 100,000 people. 

In eighth place is Enfield, with a rate of 7,735.93 unemployment benefits claims per 100,000 residents. In October 2024, Enfield recorded 16,465 claimants and showed an increase in claims of 31.67% from 5,875.36 per 100,000 people in 2023. 

Oldham ranks ninth, with unemployment benefits claims equating to 7,714.73 per 100,000 residents. With a total of 11,725 claimants in October 2024, Oldham experienced a 23.94% increase from 2023, which stood at 6,224.42 unemployment benefits claims per 100,000 people. 

Landing the tenth spot is Luton, with 7,577.02 unemployment benefits claims per 100,000 residents. Luton recorded a total of 11,325 claimants in October 2024, representing a 35.79% increase from the 2023 figure of 5,579.90 claims per 100,000 people. 

The Isles of Scilly had the lowest rate of unemployment benefits claims, at 1,094.09 per 100,000 residents. In October 2024, The Isles of Scilly recorded just 15 claimants and showed no change in claims compared with 2023. 
 
Unemployment benefits claims – Top 10 UK local authority ranking