Unemployment has risen in Cumbria for a third consecutive month, with a 180 hike in claims made in January. 

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there were 5,880 people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance or Universal Credit last month.

It represents yet another significant rise, with revised figures for December standing at 5,700.

The ONS last month reported that 5,940 people in the county were claiming Jobseeker's Allowance or Universal Credit in December, but the newly-published revised figures wipe 240 off that total.

The fluctuations in reported and revised figures are due to the on-going switch to the controversial Universal Credit system, which brings together several benefits including income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance, and Working Tax Credit.

People can still claim Universal Credit while being in work, typically on limited hours, while others continue to claim the “legacy benefits” of Jobseeker's Allowance. And while all of Cumbria’s Jobcentre Plus offices have moved in to the Universal Credit system, the full roll-out is expected to take another four years.

Criticism of Universal Credit continues to grow both locally and nationally, with some claimants saying they have been forced to use food banks due to late payments.

Despite the unclear nature of the recording of claimants, the ONS figures means that two per cent of Cumbria’s working age population is recorded as unemployed.

In the last month, South Lakeland recorded the biggest rise. There were 65 more claims made in January, taking the total to 425, but representing just 0.7 per cent of the district’s working age population.

Barrow and Carlisle both saw 50 more claims, taking the totals to 995 (2.4 per cent) and 1,255 (1.9 per cent), respectively.

Claims rose by 20 to 340 in Eden (1.1 per cent), and by 10 to 1,260 in Copeland (three per cent).

Meanwhile, the number of claims fell by 15 to 1,605 in Allerdale, representing 2.8 per cent of the population.

It means that Allerdale tops the table for the most claimants across Cumbria’s six districts, while neighbouring Copeland has the largest proportion of residents aged 16 to 64 claiming Jobseeker's Allowance or Universal Credit.

The continued rises in Cumbria are at odds with a national picture, where unemployment remains stable at around four per cent. According to ONS figures 1.36 million people were recorded as unemployed between October and December, which is at its lowest since 1974-1975.

Meanwhile, the number of people in employment continues to rise, with a record 32.6m people in work between the same period.

Senior statistician at the ONS, Matt Hughes, said the latest figures showed the labour market remained “robust”.

“Most of the growth in employment over the past year is among British nationals,” he said.

“However, the number of overseas nationals in work is still rising, despite a drop in the number of so-called ‘A8’ workers, due to more people from non-EU countries being in work.”

The A8 countries include the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia. Anyone from these countries wishing to work in the UK for more than a month have to register under the Worker Registration Scheme.

Fears are growing in Cumbria that the tourism and agricultural sectors will be hit hard after Brexit as the Government considers curbs on EU nationals looking for work in the UK. A large proportion on overseas workers in these sectors come from the A8 countries.

Jon Boys, labour market economist for the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, warned:

“For now, most employers remain optimistic about their ability to take on new staff but with Brexit just a matter of weeks away it’s uncertain how the mood will change after March,” he said.

“To prepare for this, it’s vital that employers plan for a number of possible scenarios for their workforce. With fewer EU nationals working in the UK as the same time last year, it’s vital that the Government recognises the need for a flexible post Brexit migration system to avoid worsening skill and labour shortages.”