January 2026 data released; move to 2021/2022-based geographies

The monthly update of the Claimant Count and ONS Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) series took place at 07:00 on 17 February 2026 with the release of new data for January 2026. As usual, the claimant count figures for the previous month, December 2025, were revised at the same time.

Two significant changes impact Claimant Count and Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) data starting with the release of January 2026 figures:

  1. Geography Update: Datasets move to new statistical geography building blocks based on the 2021 Census (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) and the 2022 Census (Scotland).
  2. Dataset Rationalisation: Several JSA datasets will no longer be updated. Details of this change were provided in a previous news item.

Transition to 2021/2022 Geographies

From the release of January 2026 data, Claimant Count and JSA datasets will report figures using 2021/2022-based geographies.

  • New Data (Jan 2026 onwards): Available on the new 2021/2022-based geographies.
  • Historical Data (up to Dec 2025): 2011-based geographies will remain available under the "historical" category but will not be updated with new figures.

Key Geography Changes

The following geography types will change effective immediately for new data releases:

  • Statistical Geographies: All 2011 geographies are replaced by their 2021-based equivalents:
    • England & Wales: 2011 LSOAs and MSOAs replaced by 2021 versions.
    • Scotland: 2011 data zones and intermediate zones replaced by 2022 versions.
    • Northern Ireland: 2011 Small Areas and Super Output Areas replaced by 2021 data zones and super data zones.
  • Wards: Existing ward geographies will be discontinued. New data will use the Ward (May 2025) definition.
  • Local Authorities: Figures will only be released for the latest April 2023 version. Older versions of Local Authorities will only provide data up to December 2025.
  • Senedd Cymru Constituencies: Data is available for the newly introduced May 2026 constituency boundaries.

Unchanged Geography Types

The following existing geography types will remain available and continue to be updated with January 2026 data:

  • Local Authorities (April 2023)
  • Combined Authorities (May 2025)
  • Westminster Parliamentary Constituencies (July 2024)
  • Scottish Parliamentary Constituencies (2011 revision)
  • Regions and Countries

Action Required for Users

If you have saved queries, saved geography definitions or API calls, you must take the following actions to ensure you continue to receive the latest claimant count / JSA data:

  1. Saved Queries: Saved queries referencing old 2011-based geographies will not update with new data. You must recreate these queries selecting the new 2021/2022-based geography options.
  2. Saved Geography Lists & User-Defined Geographies: Any custom lists or user-defined areas created using the affected 2011-based geographies will return missing data for January 2026 onwards. You must recreate these lists using the new 2021/2022 geography codes if you have not already done so.
  3. API Calls: If you use the Nomis API calls to feed dashboards (e.g., PowerBI) or scripts, check the geography parameter. Calls requesting discontinued geography codes (e.g. 2011 LSOAs) will need to be modified to reference the corresponding 2021/2022 geography codes.