Broadland had 1,665 jobless claimants in September, 95 more than a year ago, and 75 of the rise was under-25s. It still has Norfolk's lowest rate, at 2.1%.

The number of people in Broadland claiming out-of-work benefits has risen over the past year, and most of the rise is young people.

There were 1,665 claimants in September 2026, or 2.1% of residents aged 16 to 64. A year earlier there were 1,570. That is 95 more people, a rise of 6.1%.

Claimants aged 16 to 24 went from 305 to 380. That is 75 of the 95, a rise of about a quarter.

The figures come from the ONS claimant count, published on nomis this week. It counts people claiming benefits mainly because they are out of work. It is not the unemployment rate, which comes from a survey. The ONS rounds every count to the nearest 5, so small changes are not meaningful.

The quick answer

  • Claimants in Broadland, September 2026: 1,665, or 2.1% of 16 to 64 year olds.
  • A year ago: 1,570, or 2.0%. Up 95.
  • Aged 16 to 24: 380, up from 305.
  • Norfolk: 16,910, or 3.1%. England: 4.1%.
  • Highest ward rate: Marshes, 2.7%. Lowest: Plumstead, 1.3%.

Still the lowest rate in Norfolk

Broadland’s rate is the lowest of Norfolk’s seven districts. It also had the smallest rise in numbers over the year.

District September 2026 Rate Change on the year
Norwich 4,195 4.1% +190
Great Yarmouth 2,800 4.8% +285
King’s Lynn and West Norfolk 2,650 3.0% +230
Breckland 2,185 2.6% +230
South Norfolk 1,950 2.3% +135
Broadland 1,665 2.1% +95
North Norfolk 1,460 2.7% +105
Norfolk 16,910 3.1% +1,275

Across Norfolk the count rose 8.2% in a year. Across the UK it rose 2.8%, from 1,657,110 to 1,702,905. Broadland’s 6.1% sits between the two.

Broadland’s count peaked this year at 1,715 in March. It fell to 1,595 by June and has crept up each month since. September was 20 higher than August.

Under-25s drove the rise

The over-25s barely moved. Claimants aged 25 to 49 went from 855 to 865, and those aged 50 and over from 410 to 420. Both changes are inside the rounding.

Young people are a different picture:

  • Broadland: 380 aged 16 to 24, up from 305, a rise of 24.6%
  • Norfolk: 3,955, up from 3,365, a rise of 17.5%
  • The UK: 346,050, up from 312,835, a rise of 10.6%

So young claimants rose faster in Broadland than in Norfolk or the UK, even though the district’s overall rate is low. Under-25s now make up 23% of Broadland’s claimants, against 19% a year ago.

Ward by ward

The ONS also publishes the count for Broadland’s 27 council wards. That series only starts in January 2026, so the useful comparison is with February.

The spread is narrow. Every ward is between 1.3% and 2.7%, and none is above the Norfolk rate.

Bar chart of the claimant count as a share of residents aged 16 to 64 in Broadland's 27 wards in September 2026. Marshes 2.7%, Burlingham 2.6%, Drayton North 2.6%, Drayton South 2.6%, Sprowston Central 2.6%, Aylsham 2.5%, Hellesdon North West 2.4%, Spixworth with St Faiths 2.4%, Acle 2.3%, Eynesford 2.3%, Old Catton and Sprowston West 2.2%, Sprowston East 2.1%, Thorpe St Andrew South East 2.1%, Hellesdon South East 2.0%, Horsford and Felthorpe 2.0%, Thorpe St Andrew North West 2.0%, Brundall 1.9%, Great Witchingham 1.9%, Buxton 1.8%, Hevingham 1.8%, Wroxham 1.8%, Coltishall 1.8%, Blofield with South Walsham 1.7%, Reepham 1.7%, Taverham North 1.6%, Taverham South 1.5%, Plumstead 1.3%.
Chart by Broads News. Source: ONS claimant count via nomis, September 2026.
Share this chartFacebookWhatsAppX

The biggest moves since February:

  • Sprowston Central: up 20, from 60 to 80. Its rate went from 1.9% to 2.6%.
  • Horsford and Felthorpe: up 15, from 65 to 80.
  • Brundall: up 15, from 55 to 70.
  • Wroxham: down 25, from 90 to 65. Its rate fell from 2.4% to 1.8%.
  • Hellesdon South East: down 20, from 90 to 70.
  • Eynesford: down 15, from 60 to 45.

Sprowston East has the most claimants of any ward, at 135. Aylsham is next, at 120.

What it means for you

For the district as a whole, the jobs market is holding up better than Norfolk’s. Broadland’s rate is about half England’s.

The concern is young people. A quarter more under-25s are claiming than a year ago, a faster rise than the county’s or the country’s.

If you are claiming, or about to, the council lists the help it offers on its benefits pages. Council tax reduction is separate: you claim it from the district council, not the DWP. Our council tax bands page has what each band costs this year, and our jobs page lists local vacancies.

The October figures are due in November.

Sources

  • Office for National Statistics, claimant count (dataset NM_162_1), September 2025 to September 2026, Broadland, the other Norfolk districts, Norfolk, England and the UK, by age, and Broadland’s wards from January 2026, not seasonally adjusted. The latest month is provisional and can be revised.