2,570 people claimed jobless benefits in September, up 145 in a year, the fastest rise in Hertfordshire. Peartree and Hatfield Central have the highest rates.

2,570 people in Welwyn Hatfield were claiming unemployment-related benefits in September. That is the highest figure the borough has recorded since December 2021, when it was 2,610.

It is 3.2% of residents aged 16 to 64. The count rose by 70 in a month and is 145 higher than in September 2025, a rise of 6.0%.

The Office for National Statistics published the figures on 20 October, and they are available district by district and ward by ward through nomis.

Line chart of the Welwyn Hatfield claimant count from September 2025 to September 2026. It was 2,425 in September 2025, fell to 2,305 in December, rose to 2,530 in June, dipped to 2,500 in August and reached 2,570 in September 2026.
Chart by Welwyn Online, from ONS claimant count figures via nomis.
Share this chartFacebookWhatsAppX

July and August were lower than first thought

The claimant count is revised after it is first published, as benefit records are updated. In August we reported that July’s figure was 2,560. In this release ONS puts July at 2,525. August, first published last month, now stands at 2,500.

So the count dipped over the summer and then rose again. September’s 2,570 is above both, and also above June’s 2,530, the previous high in this run. It is itself provisional and may be revised next month.

The fastest rise in Hertfordshire

All ten of the county’s districts are in the same release.

District Sep 2025 Sep 2026 Change
Welwyn Hatfield 2,425 2,570 +145 (+6.0%)
Watford 3,135 3,285 +150 (+4.8%)
North Hertfordshire 1,910 2,015 +105 (+5.5%)
Hertsmere 2,375 2,450 +75 (+3.2%)
St Albans 2,165 2,235 +70 (+3.2%)
Dacorum 3,180 3,235 +55 (+1.7%)
Three Rivers 1,575 1,625 +50 (+3.2%)
Stevenage 2,010 2,045 +35 (+1.7%)
East Hertfordshire 1,920 1,950 +30 (+1.6%)
Broxbourne 2,150 2,130 -20 (-0.9%)

Watford added five more claimants than Welwyn Hatfield did. In percentage terms, Welwyn Hatfield’s rise is the largest of the ten.

Across Hertfordshire the count went from 22,840 to 23,535, up 3.0%. Across England and Wales it went from 1,518,450 to 1,559,915, up 2.7%. Welwyn Hatfield’s rise is about twice the county’s.

Over-50s up most

Age group Sep 2025 Sep 2026 Change
16 to 24 480 510 +30 (+6.3%)
25 to 49 1,415 1,470 +55 (+3.9%)
50 and over 530 585 +55 (+10.4%)

The over-50s are the smallest of the three groups but grew fastest. Over the year they went from 530 to 585.

Peartree and Hatfield Central have the highest rates

For the first time we can show the figures ward by ward. Rates are claimants as a share of residents aged 16 to 64.

Bar chart of claimant rates by ward in Welwyn Hatfield, September 2026. Peartree 5.1%, Hatfield Central 4.8%, Hatfield East 4.2%, Welham Green and Hatfield South 3.7%, Haldens 3.6%, Hollybush 3.4%, Hatfield Villages 3.3%, Panshanger 3.1%, Hatfield South West 3.0%, Howlands 2.7%, Sherrards 2.4%, Handside 2.3%, Northaw and Cuffley 2.2%, Brookmans Park and Little Heath 1.9%, Welwyn East 1.9%, Welwyn West 1.4%.
Chart by Welwyn Online, from ONS ward-level claimant count figures via nomis.
Share this chartFacebookWhatsAppX
  • Peartree, in east Welwyn Garden City, is highest at 5.1%, with 305 claimants.
  • Hatfield Central is next at 4.8%, with 285.
  • Hatfield East follows at 4.2%, with 240.
  • Welwyn West is lowest at 1.4%, with 50.

The five wards with Hatfield in their name account for 1,245 of the borough’s claimants. The Peartree rate is more than three times Welwyn West’s.

Ward figures are rounded to the nearest five, so they add up to 2,555 rather than exactly 2,570.

What the figures cover

The claimant count is people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Universal Credit with a requirement to look for work. It includes some people who are in work but on low pay, so it is a count of benefit claims rather than of everyone out of work. All the figures here are on the same unadjusted basis.

What it means for you

If you are claiming, or about to. Universal Credit is claimed through gov.uk, not the borough council. The council handles Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support, and runs an eligibility checker on its benefits pages.

If you are looking for work. Jobcentre Plus appointments are arranged through DWP. You can find your nearest office with the department’s jobcentre finder.

If money is the immediate problem. HertsHelp is the county’s independent advice service, on 0300 123 4044.

If you are over 50. This is the group where claims grew fastest this year. Anyone out of work later in a career is worth checking entitlement for rather than assuming.

Local jobs and employers are on our jobs page. Our story on July’s figures has the longer background.

Sources