Jobseeker's allowance replaced unemployment benefit in October 1996. The average number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance between 1997 and 2006 is shown in the following table.
Average number of claimants 1997 55,665 1998 56,897 1999 48,978 2000 42,959 2001 40,627 2002 39,965 2003 37,885 2004 34,528 2005 31,889 2006 29,902