York bucks unemployment trend (From York Press)

York bucks unemployment trend

9:19am Thursday 19th January 2012 in Jobs News By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter

YORK is continuing to buck the national trend of soaring unemployment, latest figures have shown.

While the national jobless figure has risen by 118,000 to 2.68 million, the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) in York has barely grown in the past year.

But the picture is less rosy elsewhere in North and East Yorkshire, where numbers have increased markedly.

The statistics show that in December there were 3,355 people claiming JSA in York, or 2.4 per cent of those eligible.

The figure is only 19 higher than in November and only 13 up on the 3,342 claimants in December 2010.

Across Yorkshire and The Humber as a whole, the number of claimants rose from 4.1 per cent to 4.6 per cent in the same period, and nationwide it increased from 3.5 per cent to 3.9 per cent.

In North Yorkshire, the number of claimants increased from 9,012, or 2.4 per cent, to 9,845 (2.6 per cent).

In East Yorkshire, the number rose from 6,419, or three per cent, to 7,166 (3.4 per cent).

In the Selby district, it rose from 1,482 (2.8 per cent) to 1,584 (three per cent), while in Ryedale, it increased from 656 (two per cent) to 672 (2.1 per cent).

York council leader James Alexander said said the city’s very slight increase compared well to the regional and national figures.

“The good news, though, for York is a reduction in the number of young people claiming JSA, and I think this is due in part to the excellent NEET (Not in education, employment or training) programmes being run by Future Prospects, supported financially by the council.

“As ever, there is no room for complacency and we continue to support job creation and economic growth as our main priority. That is the best route to improving people’s self sufficiency and well being.”

York Central MP Hugh Bayley said York’s performance was a legacy of huge job creation over the last 20 years, in areas including Science City York, the two universities, the hugely improved tourism offer and out-of-town developments.

York Outer MP Julian Sturdy said it was “really encouraging” to see York was remaining resilient and continuing to buck the national trend.

He said it had innovated and capitalised on new technological breakthroughs and emerging sectors, such as science and technology.