Rushcliffe's claimant count rose to 1,550 in September, up 90 in a year. Under-25s are 55 of the rise, and almost all of it is men.

The number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits in Rushcliffe rose to 1,550 in September. That is 20 more than August and 90 more than a year ago.

It is the borough’s highest monthly figure since October 2024. The Office for National Statistics published the September figures on 20 October. (ONS claimant count via nomis)

Rushcliffe is still the lowest of the seven Nottinghamshire districts, at 2.0% of residents aged 16 to 64.

What the numbers say

  • 1,550 people claiming in September 2026
  • up 20 on August, as revised
  • up 90, or 6.2%, on September 2025
  • 2.0% of 16 to 64 year olds, against 3.5% across the East Midlands and 3.9% in the UK
  • the lowest point in the past two years was 1,440, in December 2025
Line chart of the Rushcliffe claimant count by month from August 2024 to September 2026. It starts at 1,565, falls to a low of 1,440 in December 2025 and climbs to 1,550 in September 2026.
Two years of the Rushcliffe claimant count, as revised on 20 October. Chart by West Bridgford Live
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The August figure has been revised down

Last month we reported an August count of 1,565, as the ONS first published it. In this release the ONS revised August to 1,530. So the rise we described as the biggest in two years was smaller than first thought.

The direction has not changed. The count has risen in each of the last two months, from 1,500 in July to 1,550 now.

Young men account for the rise

Compared with September 2025, the extra 90 claimants are not spread evenly.

Age group Sep 2025 Sep 2026 Change
18 to 24 280 335 up 55
25 to 49 800 825 up 25
50 and over 380 390 up 10

Under-25s account for 55 of the 90, although they are the smallest group. Their number is up almost a fifth in a year.

By sex, the split is starker. Men rose from 765 to 850, up 85. Women went from 695 to 700, up 5, which is within the rounding.

How Rushcliffe compares

Area Claimants Rate
Rushcliffe 1,550 2.0%
Newark and Sherwood 2,125 2.8%
Broxtowe 2,165 3.1%
Bassetlaw 2,425 3.2%
Gedling 2,440 3.3%
Ashfield 3,045 3.8%
Mansfield 2,745 4.0%
Nottingham 14,115 6.1%

Rushcliffe has both the smallest headcount and the lowest rate in the county. Nottingham, a separate unitary council, has nine times as many claimants.

What this figure is, and is not

The claimant count is not the unemployment rate. The ONS says it “does not attempt to measure unemployment”. It counts “the number of people claiming benefits principally for the reason of being unemployed”.

Since Universal Credit, that includes some people in low-paid work who must look for more hours. A rise can reflect who has to claim, not only who has lost a job. (ONS, Claimant Count QMI)

Two more caveats:

  • the figures are rounded to the nearest five, so a change of five means little
  • earlier months can be revised, as August was this time

What it means for you

The figure covers the whole borough: West Bridgford, Bingham, Cotgrave, Ruddington, Keyworth, Radcliffe on Trent, East Leake and the villages. The release does not break it down by town.

  • If you are claiming, Rushcliffe Borough Council’s benefits pages cover council tax support and discretionary housing payments. Those are separate from the jobcentre claim counted here.
  • The council has just agreed two new council tax reliefs of up to 100%: one for foster carers, and one for households on Local Council Tax Support where someone is terminally ill. Our report explains who qualifies.
  • The October figures are due in the ONS’s next monthly labour market release, in November.

Sources