The seasonally adjusted live register stands at 200,300 for January 2019, a monthly decrease of 3,200 or 1.6%.

This is the lowest number recorded since April 2008.  In January 2018, the seasonally adjusted figure stood at 238,100 while in December 2018 the seasonally adjusted live register figure was 199,669.

Seasonally adjusted

The number on the Live Register in January 2019 is also the lowest number recorded in the seasonally adjusted series since April 2008. 

In unadjusted terms, there were 199,627 persons signing on the Live Register in January 2019. This represents an annual decrease of 37,759 (-15.9%). 

On a seasonally adjusted basis the Live Register showed a monthly decrease of 1,900 (-1.7%) males in January 2019, while females decreased by 1,400 (-1.6%) over the same period. 

Male claimants

The number of male claimants decreased by 23,581 (-17.2%) to 113,154 in the year to January 2019, while female claimants decreased by 14,178 (-14.1%) to 86,473. 

The Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment as it includes part-time workers (those who work up to three days a week), seasonal and casual workers entitled to Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance.