810 people aged 16 to 24 claimed unemployment benefits in the Canterbury district in September, the most since 2021. The total rose 90 in a month to 3,235.
810 people aged 16 to 24 were claiming unemployment-related benefits in the Canterbury district in September 2026. That is the highest figure for the age group since September 2021, when it was 815.
The figures come from the Office for National Statistics claimant count, published on Nomis on 20 October. The count covers the whole district: Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay and the villages.
The headline numbers
3,235 people in the district were claiming in September. That is up 90 on August and up 160 on September 2025.
| Age group | September 2026 | Change on August | Change on a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 to 24 | 810 | up 35 | up 130 |
| 25 to 49 | 1,640 | up 30 | down 25 |
| 50 and over | 785 | up 25 | up 60 |
| All ages | 3,235 | up 90 | up 160 |
Source: ONS claimant count by age, via Nomis.
The rise over the year is almost all among the youngest and oldest claimants. The number aged 25 to 49 is slightly lower than a year ago.
How the district compares
The district’s rate held at 3.2 per cent of residents aged 16 to 64. That is below Kent at 3.4 per cent and England at 4.1 per cent.
The monthly rise was sharper here than across the county, though. The district’s count went up 2.9 per cent in a month, against 2.3 per cent for Kent as a whole.
August’s figures have been revised
The ONS revises the previous month each time. August’s district total is now 3,145, not the 3,200 first published, and the under-25 figure is 775 rather than 785. Our August report used the figures as first published.
What it means for you
The claimant count includes people on Jobseeker’s Allowance and those on Universal Credit who are required to look for work. It is not the same as the official unemployment rate, which comes from a survey and is not published for districts each month.
If you are 16 to 24 and out of work, Jobcentre Plus is the starting point for Universal Credit and youth employment support. Our local jobs page lists vacancies in the district.
The October figures are due from the ONS in the middle of November. We will report them when they are out.
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