Moray benefits claims begin to fall again, new statistics reveal
Benefits claims have resumed their overall year-on-year downward trend, new figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have revealed.
Statistics for June year-on-year showed that the fall in benefits claims in Moray had stalled, but the trend has resumed in the equivalent figures for July.
In the Moray Council area, a total of 1335 people across the age categories were claiming benefit, down 50 on the same month last year, representing a fall of four per cent. Among those aged 18-24, the figure fell from 240 in July 2023 to 220, down some 12 per cent.
However, the upward curve in benefit claims from the over-50 age group continued for the second month running, up 20 to 350 (six per cent) year-on-year.
Meanwhile, in the new constituency area of Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, there was a fall across the board in claims year-on-year.
Overall there was a four per cent fall, with the 18-24-year-old category experiencing a drop of 16 per cent and seven per cent for the over-50s.
Both sets of statistics bettered the national averages, with all age groups rising by four per cent - 4925 - to 116,855. The 18-24 category was more or less static at 19,850 while those in the over-50 bracket claiming benefits rose by 815 (three per cent) to 25,975.
The figures include people claiming benefit while in work and also those looking for a job.
Jane Munro, Employer and Partnership Manager for Moray Jobcentres, said: “[The] employment statistics highlight the great being done by Employer Partnership Team and work coaches across Moray.
“Providing individual tailored support to jobseekers is a springboard to financial independence and a route to building a better life for themselves and their family. Underpinning this is our employer partnership teams who continue to work with businesses to fill their vacancies, which in turn contributes to growing the economy.
“Locally activity includes support for jobseekers working with Contraflow, McDonalds, Tesco, Whitbread and Moray Council to provide many local opportunities. We also have a range of employers attending regularly to speak to jobseekers over the next four weeks including, Baxters, Tesco and Whitbread. Please speak to your work coach if you would like to be involved in these sessions.
“This September we will hold our annual DWP jobs fair in partnership with UHI Moray on Thursday 5th from 4.30pm to 6.30pm; please speak to your work coach for more information.
“Importantly parents on Universal Credit can receive help with childcare payments.
“We continue to deliver courses to pave the way to conversational confidence, being able to confidently answer questions and participating in discussions without the fear of forgetting what to say, ultimately learning those hints and tips to make you a success at interview. If you would like to know about these courses, please speak to your work coach about Perfect Patter.
“Jobseekers can search our DWP FindaJob website, to check out the thousands of jobs on offer or follow Moray Works on Facebook.”
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall MP said the government was committed to making work pay.
She continued: "This is yet more evidence of the dire inheritance we face, with millions of people denied the support they need to get work and get on at work, harming their opportunities and holding back growth.
“This government will deliver the change the country is crying out for by making work pay, transforming skills, overhauling jobcentres and giving local areas the power they need to drive jobs and growth.”
A new Labour Market Advisory Board has been announced, chaired by Professor Paul Gregg. It is a new group of external experts who will provide labour market insight and advice to drive change throughout the system.
UK government Minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill added: “[These] figures are encouraging but there is still a lot of work to do and the UK government is going to deliver the change the country needs.
“Giving people support to join the workforce and the security they need to remain in fairly-paid jobs is vital as we tackle poverty and grow the economy.
“We’re banning exploitative zero hour contracts, we’ve taken the first steps to make the national minimum wage a real living wage, and we’re planning Jobcentre reform.”
