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Skipton MP responds to recent claimant figures

Wednesday, 18 February 2026 at 09:04

New figures released by the Office for National Statistics show the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits in the Skipton and Ripon constituency.

According to the latest data, 935 people were claiming unemployment-related benefits in January 2026.

This represents 1.7 per cent of the working-age population aged 16 to 64 in the constituency, compared with a UK-wide claimant rate of 3.8 per cent.

The figures indicate an increase of 15 claimants compared with the previous month.

However, the total is 85 lower than at the same time last year.

Among young people aged 18 to 24, 155 were claiming unemployment-related benefits in January.

This figure is unchanged from the previous month and is 10 lower than a year earlier.

Responding to the figures, Julian Smith said:

“The latest figures show a month-on-month rise in claimants in Skipton and Ripon and nationally, the ONS says unemployment is now 5.2 per cent in the three months to December.

"I will keep pressing the Government to back local employers, protect jobs, and get more people into work.”

The ONS claimant count includes people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, as well as people claiming Universal Credit who are required to look for work.

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