Ipswich unemployment rate higher than the national average

Across the country the unemployment rate has risen to 4.3% in the three months to September an increase from 4% in the previous quarter.

The number of vacancies has also fallen to 831,000 a fall of 35,000 or 4% from May to July according to separate figures from the ONS.

Across Eastern England the unemployment rate is 3.4% an increase of 0.1% since the last quarter. 

UK unemployment rate. (Image: PA Wire) In Ipswich this figure was 4.5% with 4,030 people claiming unemployment benefits which is slightly above the national average.

Compared to last year unemployment in the town has gone up 0.1% although the male figure has remained static at 5%, and the female figure has increased 0.2% to 4.1%.

Pay growth v inflation. (Image: PA Wire) The number of people claiming unemployment benefits has increased by 120 with 100 of those women.

Across Suffolk the unemployment rate is lower 2.6% in Babergh, East Suffolk 3.0%, Mid Suffolk 2.2% and West Suffolk 2.5%. In Norfolk however Great Yarmouth 5.5% and Norwich 4.9% have higher rates of unemployment. 

Nelleke van Helfteren, communications manager at Citizens Advice Ipswich, said that unemployment was an "additional issue" that many people who came to them for support have to face.

She added that both employed and unemployed people were asking for support due to the high cost of heating and energy with many asking for support due to the "high cost of energy" which often pushed people "beyond the ability to cope".

Indeed "for some people it's the difference between heating and eating". 

For unemployed people the long waits for unemployment benefits to be paid into their bank accounts which can sometimes be up to 5 weeks with Universal Credit can be "torturous".