Horsham claimant count jumps 80 to 1,790 in September

The number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits in the Horsham district rose by 80 in September, to 1,790. That is the biggest one-month rise since July 2024 (ONS claimant count via Nomis, retrieved 23 October 2026).

It is also the highest count since February 2025, when it was 1,795. A year ago, in September 2025, it was 1,735, so the annual rise is 55.

The rate is unchanged at 2.0 per cent of residents aged 16 to 64, still the lowest in West Sussex.

Share this chartFacebookWhatsAppXCopy linkEmbed

August was revised down again

When we reported the August figures, the published count was 1,750. The ONS now records August as 1,710, a cut of 40. So September’s rise is 80 on the revised month, not 40 on the old one.

The newest month is revised every time, because the Universal Credit part of the count “allows for revisions to the data for one previous month” (ONS quality report). July and June were cut the same way. September’s 1,790 may move too.

West Sussex, ranked

The South East rate is 3.1 per cent and the United Kingdom’s 3.9 per cent.

Under-25 claims keep climbing

The rise in young people claiming has run for more than a year, and September added to it.

• aged 16 to 24: 290 a year ago, 330 now, a rise of about 14 per cent
• aged 25 to 49: 970 a year ago, 970 now
• aged 50 and over: 475 a year ago, 490 now

At 330, under-25 claims equal their highest point in the past year, last reached in March and April. Across the South East the 16 to 24 count rose about 13 per cent over the same year, from 32,365 to 36,510. Across the United Kingdom it rose about 11 per cent, from 312,835 to 346,050.

These are counts, not rates. The ONS does not publish a claimant rate by age, so a rising count can partly reflect more young people living in the district.

Of September’s claimants, 940 were men and 850 were women.

Where in the district

The rise was spread thinly. No ward moved by more than 10. Ward figures are rounded to the nearest five.

Four wards rose by 10: Colgate & Rusper; West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington; Steyning & Ashurst; and Southwater North. Denne, still the ward with the most claimants, fell by 10. The ward August figures shown are the revised ones.

What the claimant count is, and is not

It is not the unemployment rate. The ONS says the count “does not attempt to measure unemployment” and instead counts “the number of people claiming benefits principally for the reason of being unemployed” (ONS quality report). Under Universal Credit it includes some people in low-paid work who are required to look for more hours.

What it means for you

About one working-age resident in 50 is claiming in the district, against about one in 26 across the United Kingdom. A rise of 80 in a month is worth watching, but it leaves Horsham where it has been all year: the easiest labour market in the county.

If you are looking for work, the free Horsham Employment Hub and the Think Futures service for young people have both been funded for another year; our report on the extension has how to book. The main route into support is Universal Credit, claimed online. Households on a low income can also apply for Council Tax Reduction; our guide to Horsham council tax bands explains the bill.

The September figures were published on 20 October. The October figures are due on 17 November.