Unemployment Benefit Claims Rise Across Cumbria With Concerns Over Youth Figures
The number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits in Cumbria rose during June 2026.
The county recorded 6,580 claimants, an increase of 65 people compared with May. This was a monthly rise of around one per cent.
There were also 90 more claimants than in June 2025. However, Cumbria’s overall claimant rate remained unchanged at 2.2 per cent.
The claimant count includes people receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit who are required to look for work. It does not include every unemployed person in the county.
Cumbria Remains Below the Regional Average
Despite the increase, Cumbria’s claimant rate remains well below the North West and Great Britain averages.
| Area | Claimant rate |
|---|---|
| Cumbria | 2.2% |
| North West | 4.2% |
| Great Britain | 3.9% |
Cumbria’s rate is close to half the figure recorded across the North West.
The number of claimants also varied between the county’s two council areas.
| Council area | Number of claimants |
|---|---|
| Cumberland | 4,175 |
| Westmorland and Furness | 2,400 |
Cumberland includes Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland. Westmorland and Furness covers Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland.
Most parts of Cumbria experienced an increase during June. Allerdale remained unchanged at 1,470 claimants, while South Lakeland recorded a small fall from 825 to 815.
Around 270 claimants lived within the Lake District National Park area.
More Men Claiming Unemployment Benefits
Men accounted for the largest share of Cumbria’s claimant count.
| Demographic | Number of claimants | Claimant rate |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 3,795 | 2.5% |
| Women | 2,785 | 1.8% |
| Total | 6,580 | 2.2% |
Men made up around 58 per cent of all claimants. Women accounted for approximately 42 per cent.
Both rates remained below the equivalent regional and national figures.
Younger People Face a Higher Claimant Rate
There were 1,290 claimants aged 18 to 24 in Cumbria during June. This represented four per cent of the county’s population within that age group.
The rate was higher among those aged 18 to 21.
| Age group | Number of claimants | Claimant rate |
|---|---|---|
| 16 to 17 | 10 | 0.1% |
| 18 to 21 | 840 | 4.7% |
| 18 to 24 | 1,290 | 4.0% |
| 25 to 49 | 3,760 | 2.6% |
| 50 and over | 1,520 | 1.3% |
Cumbria remained below the regional and national averages for each age group. However, the picture was not the same in every part of the county.
Copeland’s claimant rate for people aged 18 to 24 reached 5.9 per cent. This was slightly higher than the Great Britain rate of 5.7 per cent.
Number of Young People Classed as NEET Also Rises
Separate figures show an increase in the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training, commonly known as NEET.
In May 2026, 424 people aged 16 or 17 in Cumbria were recorded as NEET or their status was unknown.
This was:
- Two more than in April 2026.
- 46 more than in May 2025.
These figures are separate from the claimant count. Not every young person outside employment or education will be claiming benefits.
The national youth employment picture also remains difficult. Across the UK, 743,000 people aged 16 to 24 were unemployed during the three months to May 2026.
The UK youth unemployment rate reached 16.4 per cent, up from 14.2 per cent one year earlier.
Cumbria continues to have a relatively low overall claimant rate. However, the latest increases and the higher rate among younger residents show that access to jobs, training and work experience remains an important local issue.
