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The total number of jobseekers has increased in Guernsey with more men out of work than women despite slightly more men taking on training schemes offered by the States to help them find jobs.
The latest data report showing unemployment figures and income support claimants covers June.
The number of people who were in work and claiming additional financial support fell to 272 during the last week of June, 15 fewer than in May 2023 and 23 fewer than in June 2022.
Pictured: The Employment Summary for June 2023 is intended to give a "snapshot" of the data.
Among the headlines the snapshot gives are the number of new claims for unemployment benefit and income support falling from 35 in May to 29 in June, the total number of jobseekers without work in Guernsey increasing to 288 at the end of June 2023 - up eight from the previous month and up 16 from June 2022.
Guernsey's unemployment rate has remained below 300 for more than a year since peaks of 1,000 in. February 2021 and just over 1,600 in May 2020.
Pictured: The monthly average shows that while the number of unemployed people is far lower than its peak during the pandemic years, it has increased over the past 12 months.
The way unemployment is recorded changed with anyone working some hours and claiming income support on top of their earnings not counted in those figures.
The number of people claiming income support only was 164 at the beginning of last month with an additional 41 people claiming income support on top of unemployment benefit. 83 people were claiming unemployment benefit only during June.
Men and women between 20 and 29 years old made up the largest group of claimants by age range, with 54 men and 38 women claiming financial support from the States.
More women worked part time hours while claiming financial support on top of their earnings than men with 193 women recorded as working during the week compared to just 79 men. These people are recorded separately to those not working at all and claiming unemployment benefits, income support or both.
Pictured: The number of people working while claiming top up benefits has dropped slightly this year.
48 people in total - 25 men and 23 women - were on training schemes during June. Those schemes included Work to Benefit, Kickstart and placements with third sector organisations.
Of those people looking for work, there were 347 jobs advertised at the Job Centre with additional roles advertised by the States on gov.gg and the various recruitment agencies in Guernsey.
Pictured: "Lazyitis" could be a thing of the past in Guernsey following a push to change the way the States handles people "playing the system".
Those people who could work but aren't working were the subject of a States debate earlier this year where they were accused of having "lazyitis".
In February, the States unanimously approved an amendment by Deputy Marc Leadbeater who wanted the island's government to look at participation levels in the workforce.
“There are many reasons for non and partial economic participation, such as the lack of adequate shelter, physical health problems, mental health issues, early retirement, the absence of opportunity and also, like both my grandmother's will call it, lazyitis.”
The amendment looks to get as many people as possible off unemployment and long-term sickness benefits and into the workplace.
“Now I'm not saying that everyone receiving these benefits is easily able to become economically active. Of course not. But that doesn't mean that we should not simply address those who can,” said Deputy Leadbeater at the time.
The amendment was seconded by Deputy Andy Cameron.
Policy & Resources and Employment & Social Security need to report back by January 2024 with conclusions and proposals.
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