What it measures
The claimant count is the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, or Universal Credit with a requirement to look for work. The calendar shows the change from the previous month.
Who publishes it and when
The ONS publishes it in the monthly labour market release at 07:00 London time. It refers to the latest month, which is more recent than the three-month survey figures in the same release.
How it is put together
It is counted from benefit records rather than a survey. Because Universal Credit also covers some people in low-paid work, changes to benefit rules can move the count for reasons that are not about unemployment, and the ONS treats it with caution.
What traders watch
Traders use it as a quick check on the direction of the job market, then turn to the unemployment rate and wage growth in the same release.
How markets have usually reacted
Moves are usually small. A large unexpected rise has sometimes weighed on the pound.
Common mistakes
- Treating it as the same thing as unemployment.
- Ignoring benefit rule changes that can distort the count.
How a higher or lower figure is usually read
A rise in claimants is usually read as negative for the pound; a fall as supportive. Not a signal.
Release history
| Date | Period | Actual | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 30K | 7K |
Related news
- UK Unemployment Rate
- Bank of England Rate Decision (Bank Rate)
- UK GDP (monthly)
- Economic calendar: every release this week in your time zone
- Lot size calculator: keep your risk the same around news
- How to use an economic calendar: what happens around a release, and how to plan for it
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Official source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Calendar data: www.ons.gov.uk
Published by Office for National Statistics (ONS): www.ons.gov.uk