THE TOTAL number of people in Wychavon District claiming Universal Credit has gone up almost 70 per cent in the past year – from 2,034 to 3,405.
During that time the number of 18 to 24-year-olds looking for work has increased from 461 to 680, according to the latest figures from the Department of Work and Pensions.
In Bromsgrove the number claiming Universal Credit has risen from 1,557 to 2,716 as the impact of the pandemic becomes apparent.
The number of 18 to 24-year-olds has also increased from 300 to 503.
In Redditch the overall claimants figure has gone up from 1,914 to 3,399 in the past year, according to the latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions.
The 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 Worcester the total figures are the worst in the county, the total number of people on Universal Credit and looking for work standing at 3,723, an increase of 1,964 over the same time last year.
For 18 to 24-year-olds in the city the increase is 431 to 720.
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.”
