Exeter had 2,120 claimants in September, up 6.8% on a year earlier against 2.6% across England. Claimants aged 50 and over reached 460, the most in two years.
Exeter had 2,120 people claiming unemployment-related benefits in September. That is 135 more than in September 2025, a rise of 6.8%. Across England the count rose 2.6%.
The figures come from the Office for National Statistics claimant count, published on 20 October. They cover the city council area, which includes Topsham.
The rise is not spread evenly. Almost all of it comes from the youngest and the oldest claimants.
The numbers by age
| Age | Sep 2025 | Sep 2026 | Change | England change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 to 24 | 430 | 510 | +80 (+18.6%) | +10.3% |
| 25 to 49 | 1,165 | 1,155 | −10 (−0.9%) | −0.8% |
| 50 and over | 395 | 460 | +65 (+16.5%) | +5.1% |
| All ages | 1,985 | 2,120 | +135 (+6.8%) | +2.6% |
ONS rounds each figure to the nearest five, so the age groups do not always add up exactly to the total.
The 2,120 claimants are 2.2% of Exeter residents aged 16 to 64. That is up from 2.1% a year ago and still well below England’s 4.1%.
Over-50s: the highest in two years
The 460 claimants aged 50 and over is the highest monthly figure for that age group in the two years of data we checked, from August 2024 onwards. The previous high was 455, in January and April 2026.
September 2025 was a low month for this group, at 395. That flatters the year-on-year rise a little. Even so, the figure has not dropped below 440 since December 2025.
Across England, claimants aged 50 and over rose 5.1% over the year. Exeter’s rise was more than three times that.
Under-25s: still high, but down on August
There were 510 claimants aged 16 to 24 in September. That is 80 more than a year earlier, a rise of 18.6%, against 10.3% across England.
It is 20 fewer than in August, when the figure was 530. Young claimant numbers have stayed between 490 and 535 every month since December 2025.
How Exeter compares
Exeter’s total rose faster than Devon’s as a whole, and faster than either Plymouth or Torbay:
- Exeter: up 6.8%, to 2,120
- Torbay: up 5.8%, to 2,665
- Plymouth: up 5.0%, to 6,020
- Devon county (which includes Exeter): up 4.3%, to 11,150
- England: up 2.6%
Within the county, three districts rose faster than Exeter. West Devon was up 10.6% and Torridge 8.9%. South Hams, at 6.9%, was level with the city.
There is some context the one-year figure leaves out. Exeter’s total in September 2024 was 2,165, so the city is still slightly below where it stood two years ago.
August figures revised
The ONS has revised its August figures for Exeter since we reported them in September. The total is now 2,105, not 2,150. The under-25 count is now 530, not 535. We have added a correction to that story.
What the claimant count measures
The claimant count is not the unemployment rate. It counts people claiming benefits mainly because they are out of work. Since Universal Credit, it also includes some people in low-paid work who are required to look for more.
The monthly series is not seasonally adjusted. The ONS labels local authority figures as official statistics in development. The October figures are due in November.
What it means for you
- If you are out of work, Universal Credit claims are made through GOV.UK, which also explains how to find your nearest Jobcentre.
- If you are under 25, the Youth Hub at St James Park is run by the DWP with local partners including Exeter City Community Trust, Exeter College and Young Devon. Your work coach can refer you.
- If you are over 50, the DWP’s support for older jobseekers sets out the help on offer, including the 50 PLUS: Choices programme.
Sources
- ONS claimant count for Exeter (E07000041), via Nomis: monthly totals, rates and age bands, August 2024 to September 2026.
- ONS claimant count for Devon’s districts, Plymouth, Torbay, Devon and England, via Nomis: September 2025 and September 2026.
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