More than half of the unemployed people claiming Universal Credit in Trafford live in just five wards and they’re all in the north of the borough.

According to Government figures from the Department for Work and Pensions, Bucklow-St-Martin’s, Clifford, Gorse Hill, Stretford and Longford are collectively home to 1,775 out of the borough’s 3,485 residents who claim the Job Seekers’ Allowance element of Universal Credit.

Out of the 21 wards in Trafford, the ward with the highest number of claimants is Clifford with 480 people currently claiming state support while they are out of work.

Most claimants across the borough, a total of 870 people, are aged between 25 and 34.

These five boroughs are also the top five most deprived across Trafford, according to Trafford Data Lab figures.

The data unit ranked Bucklow-St-Martins as the ward with the highest relative level of deprivation overall.

A spokesperson for Trafford Council said the authority is trying to tackle the differences in access to skills training, employment and wellbeing across the borough.

They said: “We are seeking to proactively address these disparities by delivering employment and employability support to disadvantaged residents, and encouraging new  and sustainable enterprise and business starts in the borough.

“Our challenge is in addressing the disparities in employment, skills, and health, ensuring that every resident has access to good employment opportunities, skills training and improved health and wellbeing.”

The spokesperson added the council is promoting apprenticeships to give training opportunities to residents.

The council has also created its Trafford Pledge scheme which specifically supports those who are more disadvantaged to move into employment.

Businesses that sign the pledge offer their support by giving out jobs, apprenticeships, work experience, mentoring and practical support to those who need it most.

The authority is also carefully choosing who it pays to carry out work for it and is supporting Trafford businesses with £87m worth of contracts.

The spokesperson added: “We are actually a well-performing borough with highly skilled and productive residents.

“Over the last two decades Trafford has accounted for almost one in four new jobs created across Greater Manchester. We are second largest contributor to Greater Manchester’s economy, with one of the lowest unemployment rates.

“The borough also has one of the highest levels of productivity per head and our residents earn higher wages on average.”

The council said its recent purchase of Stretford Mall shows its commitment to regenerating Stretford and the surrounding area.

It added that the millions of pounds’ worth of investment it made in welfare services and schools as part of its most recent budget will also make a difference.