THE Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed the the most recent unemployment figures for North Shropshire.

From April 9 to May 14 there were 6,863 claimants for Universal Credit, an increase of 20.3 per cent, slightly below the national increase of 25.3 per cent.

A spokesman for the DWP commented on the recent changes.

They said: “From March 1, 2020 to May 26, 2020, the DWP has received more than 3million individual claims for Universal Credit across Great Britain.

“Although we have seen the amount of claims to Universal Credit made across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin decrease between April 9 and May 14, we are continuing to see significant numbers being made in all our constituencies, with rises of overall Universal Credit claimants in all of between 40 per cent and 50 per cent.

“With many of our employers opening their doors for business again this week, Job Centre Plus’s teams of work coaches in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin are continuing to focus their support on helping all our claimants return to work as soon as possible”