Exeter's under-25 claimant count rose 23% in a year to 535, against 9.4% across England. The city's total reached 2,150 in August, 2.2% of working-age people.
535 people aged 16 to 24 were claiming unemployment-related benefits in Exeter in August. That is 100 more than a year earlier, a rise of 23%. Across England the same age group rose by 9.4%.
The figures come from the Office for National Statistics claimant count for August 2026, published on 15 September. Young claimants account for more than the whole of the city’s increase over the year.
The headline numbers
Exeter had 2,150 claimants of all ages in August. That is 2.2% of residents aged 16 to 64, the same rate as a year ago, and well below England’s 4.0%.
The total is up 95 on August 2025, or 4.6%. England’s total rose 1.8%.
The change by age group over the year was:
| Age | Aug 2025 | Aug 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 to 24 | 435 | 535 | +100 (+23.0%) |
| 25 to 49 | 1,205 | 1,155 | −50 (−4.1%) |
| 50 and over | 420 | 460 | +40 (+9.5%) |
| All ages | 2,055 | 2,150 | +95 (+4.6%) |
ONS rounds each figure to the nearest five, so the age groups do not always add up exactly to the total.
Not a one-month blip
The under-25 figure has been climbing for most of a year. Between August 2024 and October 2025 it stayed between 405 and 450 every month. It reached 480 in November 2025 and has not dropped below that since.
August’s 535 matches February 2026 as the highest month in the last two years.
The monthly series is not seasonally adjusted, so a single month’s jump can reflect the time of year. In August 2025 the under-25 count also rose, by 30 on the month. This August it rose by 45, from 490 in July.
The 25 to 49 group went the other way. It fell from 1,205 to 1,155 over the year, and has sat between 1,130 and 1,205 every month since October 2025.
How Exeter compares in Devon
Exeter’s rise in young claimants is steeper than the county’s. Across Devon’s eight districts, the under-25 count rose 13.9%, from 2,045 to 2,330.
On the overall rate, Exeter sits in the middle of the county:
- North Devon and Torridge: 2.7%
- Mid Devon: 2.3%
- Exeter, Teignbridge and West Devon: 2.2%
- East Devon and South Hams: 2.1%
The total number of claimants rose fastest in South Hams (up 10.0%), East Devon (8.5%) and West Devon (8.4%). Exeter’s 4.6% was close to the Devon figure of 4.7%.
What the claimant count measures
The claimant count is not the unemployment rate. It counts people claiming benefits principally because they are out of work. Since Universal Credit, it also includes some people who are in work on low earnings and are required to look for more.
The ONS labels local authority figures as official statistics in development. The next release, covering September, is due on 20 October 2026.
What it means for you
- If you are 16 to 24 and out of work, Universal Credit claims are made through GOV.UK, which also explains how to find your local Jobcentre.
- If you run a business that hires young people, the number of young claimants in the city is level with its highest point in two years.
- If you are watching the local economy, the young claimant figure is the one to follow when the September count lands on 20 October.
Sources
- ONS claimant count for Exeter (E07000041), via Nomis: monthly totals, rates and age bands, August 2024 to August 2026.
- ONS claimant count for Devon’s districts, Devon and England, via Nomis: August 2025 and August 2026.
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