Stuart Anderson MP has responded to the latest unemployment figures for South Shropshire, which show there were 1,255 people claiming unemployment-related benefits in March 2026. The figure is up by 35 claimants compared to February 2026 and represents 2.4% of the population aged 16 to 64 in South Shropshire. The figure also includes 245 claimants aged 18 to 24, which is up by 10 claimants from last month and 40 claimants compared to this time last year.
Stuart Anderson MP:
“I am devastated that unemployment has risen again in South Shropshire, with young people disproportionately affected by the slowdown in recruitment. Major tax hikes in the hospitality sector, which is the biggest employer of young people, provide crucial first-job opportunities in South Shropshire. However, recent months have seen the closure of a significant number of businesses in South Shropshire’s retail, leisure, and tourism sectors. The government’s youth employment drive will do little to shift the dial while businesses are still clobbered with tax hikes. Indeed, vacancies have plummeted to their lowest in five years while unemployment is forecasted to rise in 2026, 2027, and 2028. With only 13 Jobcentre Plus offices located in rural settlements across England, I continue to call for much more support including the rollout of employment vans in South Shropshire.”
The jobs data does not reflect how employers have responded to rising energy costs following the outbreak of the conflict in Iran and wider region on 28 February 2026. However, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the number of employees on payrolls has already fallen by 11,000, while economists expected a fall of 5,000. Last month’s figures reflected an even starker trajectory. In February 2026, there were 1,240 people claiming unemployment-related benefits in South Shropshire, which was up by 95 people on the previous month. This represents 2.4% of the population aged 16 to 64 and includes 235 claimants aged 18 to 24. Across the country, the unemployment reached 4.9 per cent in the three months to February, which is up from 4.2 per cent at the election.
Stuart has blamed major tax hikes in the hospitality sector, which is the biggest employer of young people - with four in ten of its workforce aged between 16 and 24. While young people are 10% of the total workforce, they represent nearly half of workers in roles like waitressing and bar staff, which provides crucial first-job opportunities in South Shropshire.
Recent months have seen the closure of a significant number of businesses in South Shropshire’s retail, leisure, and tourism sectors. The government has launched what it calls a “major youth employment drive”, which it claims will help 200,000 young people to get jobs. However, Stuart
has said that it will do little to shift the dial while businesses are clobbered with tax hikes. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported that vacancies have also fallen to their lowest in five years.
In March 2026, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has raised the unemployment rate forecast for 2026, 2027, and 2028. Meanwhile, the national 16-24 youth unemployment rate was 14.3% in the three months to February 2026, up from 13.4 per cent April to June 2024 when the Conservatives left office. Over 957,000 young people aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment, or training in December 2025 - up by 36,000 from June 2024 when the Conservatives left office.
The Government has announced £2.5 billion over the next three years into the Youth Guarantee and additional investment to the Growth and Skills Levy to back young people. This includes dedicated support in Jobcentres through a Youth Guarantee Gateway that will provide 16-24-year-olds
on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support. However, research from the Rural Services Network has found that there are only 13 Jobcentre Plus offices are located in rural settlements across England. As this limits access for residents in more remote areas, Stuart called for the rollout of employment vans in South Shropshire. In February, the Department for Work and Pensions announced six more areas will benefit. However, this does not include South Shropshire. The government has also announced more work experience placements, employer‑designed training, and apprenticeships. However, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has said that it will do little for more than 300,000 young people who claim Universal Credit but are not required to look for a job due to health conditions.
