THE number of young people in North Cornwall claiming Universal Credit has more than halved year on year, pointing to a positive employment picture in the region, says the Department for Work and Pensions.

The latest figures available show that in November 2021, 238 people aged 18 to 24 in the constituency were claiming Universal Credit. At the same point in 2020, there were 493 in this age group making a claim.

Across all people of working age in North Cornwall, the number claiming Universal Credit fell 39% to 1,748 between the end of 2020 and the end of 2021.

Looking back to five years ago, however, gives a different view. The number of people claiming Universal Credit at the end of 2021 was 30% higher (404 more people) than those claiming equivalent benefits at the end of 2016.