4,920 people in the Dorset Council area claimed out-of-work benefits in September, 195 more than a year ago. Over-50s rose by 150, the biggest jump of any age group.
4,920 people in the Dorset Council area were claiming unemployment-related benefits in September, 195 more than a year earlier. The biggest rise was among people aged 50 and over.
The Office for National Statistics figures were published on 20 October through nomis. They cover the Dorset Council area, from Lyme Regis to Verwood. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is counted separately.
The claimant rate is unchanged at 2.3 per cent of residents aged 16 to 64. That is still below the South West’s 2.7 per cent and the UK’s 3.9 per cent.
The over-50s overtake the young
Last month the story was under-25s. In August their count had risen 13 per cent in a year. In September the over-50s moved faster.
| Age band | September 2025 | September 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 to 24 | 900 | 985 | +85 (+9.4%) |
| 25 to 49 | 2,520 | 2,480 | -40 (-1.6%) |
| 50 and over | 1,305 | 1,455 | +150 (+11.5%) |
| All ages 16+ | 4,725 | 4,920 | +195 (+4.1%) |
The 1,455 claimants aged 50 and over are now 29.6 per cent of the county total. Dorset’s over-50 rise of 11.5 per cent is well above the South West’s 7.8 per cent and the UK’s 4.8 per cent.
The 985 under-25s are the most Dorset has recorded in a September since 2021, when 1,005 were claiming. The 25 to 49 group is again the only one that has shrunk over the year.
A rise between August and September
The count went up by 120 between August and September, from 4,800 to 4,920. A year ago it did not move between the same two months: it was 4,725 in both.
The local figures are not seasonally adjusted, so a single month can mislead. The year-on-year comparison is the safer guide, and it shows a rise of 4.1 per cent.
The longer view puts it in proportion. September 2026 is above 2025, 2023 and 2022, but below September 2024, when 5,355 people were claiming, and well below 2021’s 6,230.
How Dorset compares
Dorset’s 4.1 per cent rise over the year matches the South West’s, where the count rose by 3,815 to 97,965. The UK rose 2.8 per cent.
Next door, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole had 8,375 claimants in September, a rate of 3.3 per cent. Its annual rise was smaller, at 1.8 per cent, but its over-50 count also climbed, by 7.5 per cent to 2,220.
August’s figure has been revised down
When we reported August’s figures, the count stood at 4,900, with 990 under-25s. The ONS has since revised August to 4,800, with 970 under-25s. The Universal Credit part of the count is open to revision for one month. September’s figure may move in the same way when October’s is published.
What the claimant count is, and what it is not
The ONS says plainly that “the Claimant Count does not attempt to measure unemployment”.
- It counts people on Jobseeker’s Allowance, plus Universal Credit claimants who are required to look for work. Some of them have part-time jobs.
- Someone out of work who is not claiming is not in it.
- Local figures are rounded to the nearest five, so the age bands do not always add up to the total.
What it means for you
If you are over 50 and looking for work in Dorset, you are now part of the fastest-growing group of claimants in the county. The government’s Find a job service lists vacancies by postcode, and your local Jobcentre can be found on GOV.UK.
If you are 16 to 24, the count of people your age claiming is still up by 85 on a year ago. Dorset Council’s Next Steps Team helps 16 to 18 year olds not in education, employment or training, care leavers up to 21, and young people up to 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan.
If a fall in income affects your bills, our guide to Dorset council tax bands covers discounts and reductions. Our earlier report on August’s claimant count has the longer run of under-25 figures.
The October figures are due in mid November.
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