Comparisons between unemployment and the claimant count: 1971 to 2007

Explains the conceptual differences and also examines the differences between the two measures by dataThe number of unemployed people is currently more than twice as high as the claimant count, which measures the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits. This article explains the conceptual differences between unemployment and the claimant count.The article also examines the differences between the two measures by gender. The gap between unemployment and the claimant count is larger for women than for men, with female unemployment being consistently higher than the female claimant count throughout the period 1971 to 2007. However, for men, throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, the claimant count exceeded unemployment. Since the late 1990s, however, male unemployment has exceeded the male claimant count and the gap is widening. For men, but not for women, the gap between the claimant count and unemployment seems to be significantly affected by the economic cycle as the male claimant count has exceeded male unemployment during periods of high unemployment. Economic & Labour Market Review (2008) 2, 18–20; doi:10.1057/elmr.2008.70