Barnet Claimant Count: Under-25s Highest Since 2021

More young people in Barnet are claiming out-of-work benefits than at any point in almost five years.

In August 2026, 1,710 residents aged 16 to 24 were on the claimant count. That is 95 more than in July, and the highest figure since October 2021. The one-month rise is the largest for that age group since June 2020, the first months of the pandemic.

The figures are from the Office for National Statistics, published through nomis this week.

It is not simply the usual summer pattern. In August 2025 the same age group rose by 15, and in August 2024 it fell by 5.

The borough total

Across all ages, 13,125 Barnet residents were claimants in August, 5.0% of those aged 16 to 64. That is 205 more than July and 255 fewer than August 2025, when the count was 13,380.

July’s figure has been revised. We reported 13,185 for July when it was first published. It now reads 12,920, so the rise into August is measured from that lower base. Recent months are routinely revised as late claims are processed.

The split by age, August 2026 against a year earlier:

The 16 to 24 group is the only one of the three that is higher than a year ago. Within it, 890 claimants were aged 18 to 21, up from 835 in July.

Of the total, 6,975 claimants were men and 6,150 were women.

Ward by ward

The gap across the borough has not changed much. The highest rate is still in Cricklewood, at 8.3%, and the lowest is still Garden Suburb, at 2.1%.

The five highest rates in August:

The five lowest:

Burnt Oak has the most claimants of any ward, at 1,060. The largest rise on the month was in Edgware, up 30 to 580. Burnt Oak, West Hendon, Colindale South and East Finchley each rose by 25. Ward figures are rounded to the nearest five, so small moves should not be read too closely.

How Barnet compares

Barnet’s rate is below London’s and above the UK’s:

• Barnet: 13,125 claimants, 5.0%
• London: 347,135 claimants, 5.5%
• United Kingdom: 1,698,450 claimants, 3.9%

Among London’s 32 boroughs and the City, 16 have a higher rate than Barnet. Hounslow and Hillingdon are level with it at 5.0%. Newham, Haringey and Barking and Dagenham are joint highest at 7.4%, and Richmond upon Thames is the lowest borough at 2.6%.

Two neighbours sit well above Barnet: Enfield and Brent, both on 7.2%. Harrow is on 4.8% and Camden on 4.6%.

What this number is, and is not

The claimant count is not the unemployment rate. The ONS methodology note says it “does not attempt to measure unemployment”.

• It counts Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants and Universal Credit claimants who are required to look for work.
• Some of those people have a part-time or low-paid job, so the count includes some people in work.

What it means for you

If you are 16 to 24 and on Universal Credit, the government says extra help is available for your age group, including jobs, training and apprenticeships. Your nearest Jobcentre is on the DWP’s postcode finder, and vacancies are listed on Find a job.

If you are claiming at any age, the Universal Credit guidance sets out what is expected in each conditionality group.

The highest claimant rates run along Barnet’s western and southern edge, from Burnt Oak and Colindale down to Cricklewood. The lowest are in the north, around Totteridge, Whetstone and High Barnet, with Garden Suburb the exception in the south. For the borough’s housing costs, see our July house prices report.

The September 2026 claimant count is due in October.

Sources

• ONS claimant count via nomis, dataset NM_162_1, August 2026, London Borough of Barnet, by age and sex
• Ward-level claimant count via nomis, wards as of May 2025
• London borough, London and UK comparison via nomis
• Claimant Count methodology, Office for National Statistics