UNEMPLOYMENT has fallen in more than half the neighbourhoods in York, sparking fresh hopes that the city will ride out the recession.

Between May and June, the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) fell in 12 of the 22 City of York Council wards, new figures have shown.

The biggest drops were in the suburban or village areas, with a 23 per cent drop in Derwent, a 20 per cent drop in Heworth Without and a 12 per cent drop in Haxby and Wigginton.

Across the city, the number of JSA claimants remains far higher than last summer, but the universal upward trend has now stopped.

York’s overall figure for June was 3,654 – down from 3,742 in May.

Only nine of the 22 wards saw an increase in June with one, Acomb, staying unchanged at 168.

Coun Carol Runciman, pictured, deputy leader of the council, cautiously welcomed the figures.

She said: “I am always wary of saying it’s the green shoots of recovery, because you never know.

“But I think we can safely say that York has not been as badly hit as some other area in the recession.

“It is good to know that the unemployment figures are going down and I hope that trend will continue.

“Meanwhile the council, in conjunction with The Press, will work very hard at bringing business to York and making people realise it is a good place to live and work. We are working together to show that York Means Business.”

The wards that showed a decrease in JSA claimants in June were Clifton; Derwent; Haxby and Wigginton; Heworth; Heworth Without; Holgate; Hull Road; Huntington and New Earswick; Micklegate; Rural West York; Skelton, Rawcliffe and Clifton Without; and Strensall.

There were increases in Bishopthorpe; Dringhouses and Woodthorpe; Fishergate; Fulford; Guildhall; Heslington; Osbaldwick; Westfield; and Wheldrake.