Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil are among older industrial areas in the UK with the most out-of-work benefits claimants

% out-of-work benefits claimants, ages 16-64

number

%

5

10

15

20

Middlesbrough 21.2

Knowsley 20.8

Blaenau Gwent 20.2

West Dunbartonshire 19.6

Hull 19.5

North Ayrshire 19.2

Merthyr Tydfil 19

Burnley 18.8

Hartlepool 18.5

Inverclyde 18.3