York’s jobless total shows a slight rise

In the City of York Council area there were 920 people claiming unemployment benefits in December, a rise of 15, or two per cent, since the same period in 2015.

In the 18 to 24 age range 205 people were claiming benefits, a fall of ten.

Natalie Liddell, deputy recruitment manager for Selby, Ryedale and York Jobcentres, said there was no particular reason she could see for the small rise in the overall jobless figure.

In the Selby District Council area there were 640 people claiming benefits, a fall of 25, though the figure had risen by five to 150 in the 18 to 24 age range.

In the Ryedale District Council area a total of 385 people were claiming benefits, with 75 of them aged 18 to 24, rises of 115 and 20 respectively.

But this is partly due to the introduction of full service Universal Credit in Ryedale, which means a wider range of people are being recorded in the claimant count than was the case previously.

Mrs Liddell said Army Careers were coming to York Jobcentre on Monday to discuss vacancies. The Jobcentre was also supporting Involved Learning with a sector-based work academy in security, and a group information session would be held on Monday, with a national security company in attendance, to identify suitable candidates to start Security Industry Authority training the same week. On Tuesday an information session would be held at the Jobcentre focusing on jobs abroad.

Yesterday it was supporting the ‘Shape your Future’ Event, a joint initiative between Fulford School, Archbishop Holgate’s School and Millthorpe, providing jobs and career support. The next York Jobsfair is to be held on March 23.

She said North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was recruiting retained (on call) firefighters in the Acomb, Huntington and York areas. People aged over 18, in good health and reasonably fit and able to respond to their local fire station in about four minutes could go to northyorksfire.gov.uk