UNEMPLOYMENT has fallen again in York - particularly among young people.

A slight increase in the jobless rate in December appears to have been a temporary blip, with the number of unemployed benefit claimants in the City of York Council area dropping to 945 in January, down by 60 or six per cent on a year ago.

There was a 17 per cent fall in the number of claimants aged 18-24 and looking for work, from 230 last year to 190 in January 2017, said Sara Farrar, recruitment & partnership manager at Selby, York and Ryedale Jobcentres.

In the Selby District Council area, the number of claimants fell by 10 per cent year-on-year, from 725 to 655, with a six per cent fall in the number of claimants aged 18-24 from 160 to 150.

In the Ryedale District Council area, the figures showed a 52 per cent rise in the number of claimants to 425, but Ms Farrar said this was related to the roll-out of Universal Credit, which meant claimant counts were likely to rise.

She said the Jobcentre was supporting recruitment drives by employers including York’s new Carluccio’s restaurant, which was seeking waiting staff, chefs, baristas and deli assistants, Nicholson Pubs, including Harkers, The Cross Keys, The Old White Swan and The Punch Bowl, which wanted bar staff, chef, waiters and kitchen porters, and Mencap and UBU, which were seeking support workers.

The news comes ahead of an apprenticeship recruitment event at City of York Council’s HQ, West Offices, between 4pm-7pm on Thursday March 2. Council deputy leader Keith Aspden said it was committed to supporting local businesses and residents looking for work.