AQW 24571/22-27 Written question to the Minister for Communities
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the number of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants in Northern Ireland in the last five years, broken down by (i) age group; and (ii) constituency.
Asked by Sian Mulholland MLA on 18 March 2025
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 18 March 2025
- Answer due by
- 2 April 2025
- Answered
- 24 April 202537 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Communities
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The number of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants in Northern Ireland in the last five years broken down by i) age group and ii) constituency are as follows:
Table 1 Jobseeker’s Allowance by Age Group (2019 - 2024)
| Age group | Nov 2019 | Nov 2020 | Nov 2021 | Nov 2022 | Nov 2023 | Nov 2024 |
| Under 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18-24 | 810 | 500 | 250 | 120 | 60 | 50 |
| 25-29 | 1,070 | 1,040 | 670 | 380 | 300 | 260 |
| 30-34 | 1,230 | 1,210 | 890 | 550 | 420 | 400 |
| 35-39 | 1,260 | 1,320 | 950 | 610 | 510 | 430 |
| 40-44 | 1,160 | 1,210 | 890 | 640 | 510 | 480 |
| 45-49 | 1,290 | 1,340 | 960 | 630 | 520 | 460 |
| 50-54 | 1,540 | 1,620 | 1,190 | 820 | 660 | 520 |
| 55-59 | 1,580 | 1,740 | 1,360 | 950 | 750 | 670 |
| 60-64 | 1,510 | 1,670 | 1,400 | 930 | 760 | 660 |
| 65+ | 160 | 340 | 280 | 170 | 150 | 140 |
| Total | 11,620 | 11,990 | 8,830 | 5,790 | 4,640 | 4,070 |
Source: Northern Ireland Benefits Statistics (Analytics Division- DfC)
Table 2: Jobseeker’s Allowance by Constituency (2019 - 2024)
| Constituency | Nov 2019 | Nov 2020 | Nov 2021 | Nov 2022 | Nov 2023 | Nov 2024 |
| Belfast East | 570 | 680 | 470 | 280 | 240 | 220 |
| Belfast North | 980 | 950 | 710 | 490 | 400 | 370 |
| Belfast South and Mid Down | 440 | 520 | 400 | 250 | 220 | 210 |
| Belfast West | 1,040 | 990 | 750 | 540 | 400 | 350 |
| East Antrim | 680 | 720 | 550 | 320 | 250 | 240 |
| East Londonderry | 680 | 640 | 490 | 350 | 280 | 230 |
| Fermanagh and South Tyrone | 560 | 590 | 430 | 310 | 240 | 220 |
| Foyle | 1,350 | 1,240 | 1,010 | 790 | 690 | 530 |
| Lagan Valley | 490 | 580 | 400 | 230 | 170 | 160 |
| Mid Ulster | 330 | 400 | 260 | 170 | 120 | 110 |
| Newry And Armagh | 450 | 500 | 380 | 230 | 200 | 180 |
| North Antrim | 930 | 710 | 480 | 280 | 200 | 170 |
| North Down | 460 | 530 | 380 | 220 | 180 | 160 |
| South Antrim | 500 | 560 | 380 | 200 | 150 | 140 |
| South Down | 410 | 510 | 330 | 220 | 170 | 160 |
| Strangford | 600 | 590 | 430 | 270 | 210 | 170 |
| Upper Bann | 480 | 580 | 440 | 280 | 230 | 200 |
| West Tyrone | 670 | 700 | 540 | 370 | 300 | 250 |
| Unknown | 0 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 11,620 | 11,990 | 8,830 | 5,790 | 4,640 | 4,070 |
Source: Northern Ireland Benefits Statistics (Analytics Division- DfC)