UNEMPLOYMENT in one Flintshire constituency has gone up for a third month in a row, with the rollout of Universal Credit a contributory factor.

The total number of unemployed claimants in Delyn constituency in September 2018 was 1,085.

This represents a rate of 3.3 per cent of the economically active population aged 16-64 when the equivalent UK claimant rate was 2.9 per cent.

The UK unemployment rate, which includes people not claiming benefits and is estimated from survey data, was four per cent in June to August 2018.

The number of claimants in Delyn constituency is 310 higher than September 2017 and 50 higher than in August 2018. And there were 240 claimants aged 18-24 in September 2018, 55 higher than September 2017.

In the statistical release, provided by the independent House of Commons Library, Universal Credit is mentioned as a factor behind unemployment rising.

The briefing states: “Under Universal Credit a broader span of claimants is required to look for work than under Jobseeker’s Allowance.

“This has the effect of increasing the number of unemployed claimants.

“The effect is most visible in areas operating Universal Credit Full Service’’.

Delyn has been on ‘Full Service’ Universal Credit for some time and was one of the first constituencies to see the rollout of the benefit.

Delyn Labour MP David Hanson said: “This is now the third consecutive rise in unemployment in Delyn. Since December 2017 we have seen unemployment in Delyn increase by 230 people.

“That is what is often forgotten by the UK Government. Each one of these numbers represents a person that is now without a job and unable to support themselves.

“It is deeply concerning that young people – those aged 18-24 – are having their life chances undermined as the UK Government is failing to tackle the need for skilled jobs in North East Wales.”

“What we need is investment in our local services.”