Unemployment rate in Hertfordshire higher than before Covid
In December 18,940 residents were registered as unemployed
Last updated 1st Apr 2023
Unemployment in Hertfordshire continues to be higher than before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, data shows.
In December (2022) there were 18,940 residents registered as unemployed – equivalent to 2.5 per cent of the county’s 16 to 64 year old population.
That’s lower than the UK average of 3.7 per cent. But it’s still 31.8 per cent higher than before the pandemic, in March 2020.
The figures were presented to members of the county council’s resources and performance cabinet panel on Wednesday (March 29), as part of a regular quarterly update on unemployment claimants.
The quarterly figures – for October to December 2022 – show that across the county the number of claimants had increased by 610 – with the claimant rate remaining constant at 2.5 per cent.
“The proportion of claimants (16-64) in Hertfordshire is unchanged at 2.5 per cent while the national rate has increased slightly from 3.6 to 3.7 per cent,” says the quarterly report.
“Hertfordshire’s unemployed claimant count largely unchanged at 18,940.”
According to the data, unemployment was lower in every one of the 10 districts and boroughs in Hertfordshire in December (2022) than it had been 12 months earlier.
Dacorum, according to the data, recorded the highest number of claimants in December, at 2520 – equivalent to 2.6 per cent of the borough’s 16-64 aged residents.
The number of claimants in the borough had decreased by 21.5 per cent since December 2021, according to the data. But it was still 35.8 per cent higher than in March 2020.
According to the Hertfordshire data the highest unemployment rate, in December 2022, was in Watford where there were 2240 claimants recorded – equivalent to 3.6 per cent of the borough’s 16-64 year old population.
The number of claimants in the borough, in December, was reported to be 31.4 per cent higher than at the start of the pandemic – but was 11.6 per cent lower than in December 2021.
Meanwhile across the UK in December 2022 the unemployment claimant rate amongst 16-64 year old residents was 3.7 per cent.
The number of claimants in the UK was reported to have dropped by 15.6 over the 12-month period to December 2022 – but was still 20.8 per cent higher than in March 2020.
Elsewhere in the county the data shows that in December (2022) there were 1975 claimants in Broxbourne – equivalent to 3.3 per cent of the 16-64 population.
The number of claimants in the borough is 37.6 per cent higher than in March 2020, but 20.8 per cent lower than in December 2021.
In East Hertfordshire there were 1675 claimants in December 2022. That’s equivalent to 1.8 per cent of the 16-64 population – which was the lowest rate recorded in the Hertfordshire district and borough areas.
The number of claimants in East Herts, according to the data, dropped by 23.7 per cent in the 12 months to December (2022). But it was still 47.6 per cent higher than in March 2020.
In Hertsmere the data shows there were 1925 claimants in December (2022) – equivalent to three per cent of the 16-64 population.
The number of claimants in Hertsmere was 44.2 per cent higher than in March 2020, but 18.1 per cent lower than in December 2021.
According to the data, in December (2020) there were 1730 claimants in North Hertfordshire – equivalent to 2.1 per cent of the 16-64 population.
The number of claimants in the district was 21.4 per cent higher than in March 2020, but 25.3 per cent lower than in December 2021.
In St Albans there were 1890 claimants in December – equivalent to 2.1 per cent of the 16-64 population.
The number of claimants in St Albans was 28.6 per cent higher than in March 2020, but 17.1 per cent lower than in December 2021.
In December (2022) there were 1765 claimants registered in Stevenage – equivalent to 3.2 per cent of the borough’s 16-64 population.
The number of claimants in the borough was 23 per cent higher than in March 2020, but 24.4 per cent lower than in December 2021.
In Three Rivers there were 1275 claimants recorded in December (2022) – equivalent to 2.2 per cent of the district’s 16-64 population.
The number of claimants in the district was 27.5 per cent higher than in March 2020, but 11.8 per cent lower than in December 2021.
In Welwyn Hatfield there were 1945 claimants recorded in December (2022) – equivalent to 2.4 per cent of the borough’s 16-64 population.
The number of claimants in the borough was 22.7 per cent higher than in March 2020, but 25.5 per cent lower than in December 2021.