Benefits - % of the working age population claiming one or more of the key employment related benefits (c20)

• This measures claimant count which is the number of people claiming benefit principally for the reason of being unemployed.
• This is measured by combining the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) and National Insurance credits with the number of people receiving Universal Credit principally for the reason of being unemployed. During the week in which the claim is made this measures claimants who declare that they are out of work, capable of, available for and actively seeking work.

Why this matters

• Measuring the number of working‑aged people claiming benefits is important because it shows how many residents are unable to access or sustain work, and how well the local economy is supporting people into secure, sustainable employment.
• High claimant numbers can signal practical issues such as a shortage of local jobs, health conditions, low skills, or barriers like childcare or transport. Tracking this helps identify where support is needed to help people move into, and stay in, work.

Latest performance

The proportion of working age residents claiming employment related benefits continues to fall, a trend first seen in 2020. At 2.8%, this is now the lowest point in the last eight years and lower than the national average (2.9%). 

• In the years prior to The Plan for North Lanarkshire baseline of 3.5% in December 2018, claimant count for North Lanarkshire had remained relatively low, increasing only to 3.7% in March 2020. April 2020 figures clearly showed the immediate impact of the pandemic with a rise to 6.1% in North Lanarkshire compared to 5.5% nationally.  At this time, figures continued to increase to a high of 7.2% in August 2020 which was in line with trends nationally.
• After August 2020 figures started on a relatively downward trend (albeit more gradual towards the end of 2022 and into 2023), with figures as at December 2023 showing 3.3% of the working age people now claiming one or more of the key benefits in North Lanarkshire, compared to a national average of 3%.
• This improvement has continued over the last two years with figures as at December 2024 showing 3.1% and as at December 2025 showing 2.8% (Figure 20a).    
• The latest claimant count rate for North Lanarkshire (2.8%) is now lower than The Plan for North Lanarkshire baseline of 3.5%, with the number of people now claiming one or more of the key benefits 6,170 compared to the baseline of 7,675 (Figure 20b).
• The figure as at December 2025 of 6,170 people claiming work related benefits in North Lanarkshire has decreased over the last year from 6,935 as at December 2024 and is the lowest figure recorded since mid-2018.

The trend in North Lanarkshire over the years mirrors that of the national average. The comparative average for the group of similar councils also shows a similar trend over the years, albeit this shows an average of 3.4% of working age residents claiming employment related benefits, which is higher than North Lanarkshire.  

Impact of delivering The Plan for North Lanarkshire

Reducing the number of working‑aged people who rely on employment‑related benefits means more residents are moving into, and sustaining, work. This strengthens the local workforce, increases household income, and boosts spending in the local economy, helping businesses grow and creating further job opportunities. 

It also reduces pressure on public services and allows more resources to be directed towards community priorities. Most importantly, when people facing barriers are supported into good‑quality jobs, more residents can participate fully in the local economy. Overall, this leads to a more resilient labour market and stronger communities.