THE number of people out of work in York, North and East Yorkshire is continuing to fall and remains below the national average unemployment rate, according to the latest figures.

The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) in York and North Yorkshire has been declining since 2010 and has dropped significantly in York from 2,183 and 1.6 per cent in January to 1,375 and one per cent of the adult population last month.

In North Yorkshire the number of people claiming has dropped from 6,804 people, 1.9 per cent, to 3,956 and 1.1 per cent last month.

The figure is the lowest percentage since current tables started in 2006 and is much lower than 2.9 per cent of people claiming in Yorkshire and the Humber and the British average of 2.2 per cent.

Susie Cawood, head of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber, said: "It's welcome news and reflects the confidence in the York and North Yorkshire economy. It's borne out by the Chamber's quarterly economic survey which shows increased confidence in the economy."

The claimant count for East Yorkshire is also at a low since 2008 with numbers falling from 5,416 and 2.7 per cent at the start of the year to 3,676 people and 1.8 per cent.

Meanwhile, nationally, the unemployment rate for the UK stands at 1.97 million, a reduction of 154,000 in the three months to August 2014.

The rate of unemployment also fell again, to six per cent, the lowest since late 2008.

The number of people claiming Job Seekers' Allowance nationally last month fell by 18,600 to 951,000.

In Yorkshire and Humberside, there are 48,000 more people in work than this time last year, for the period June to August.