UNEMPLOYMENT in York and North Yorkshire in May reached its lowest point since 2008.

The number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) in York fell from 2,898 in April to 2,763 in May - just 2.1 per cent of the working age population. The figure is down 658 claimants and 0.5 per cent on May 2012.

This is the lowest since December 2008, when the claimant count was 2,694, representing 2 per cent of the working age population, and the lowest May since 2008 when 1,808 people claimed JSA - 1.4 per cent of the working age population.

North Yorkshire's claimant count was also at its lowest since December 2008, recording 7,615 claimants - 2 per cent of the working age population - in May.

This is down from 8,058 in April and 9,433 in May last year. Employment peaked around May/June 2008, with 4,558 claimants, just 1.2 per cent of the working age population, in May 2008.

Selby's claimant count was also down, at 1,312, compared to 1,344 in April and down from 1,603 in May 2012.

In East Yorkshire, 5,959 people claimed JSA in May, compared to 6,317 in April and 6,869 in May last year.

Unemployment in Ryedale reduced by 0.2 per cent to 1.7 per cent, with 535 jobseekers in May, down from 594 in April and also the lowest since December 2008.

The trend of falling unemployment was mirrored across Yorkshire and the UK.

Carl Les, deputy leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said: "When the unemployment figures are so small anyway, it is very hard to define where a move from 2.2 per cent to 2 per cent may have come from, but it's very welcome.

"However, improvements in percentages mean nothing if you're one of those 7,500 people who are unemployed and as a county council we do still have concerns."

He said there were geographical pockets of unemployment around the county, such as Scarborough district, as well as among young people.

He said that the decision due to be made by the North York Moors National Park planning authority over plans for a new potash mine at the end of July would be of great importance.

"I hope they give due weight to the fact that there could be some significant job creation in that part of the world where there's a need for job creation," he said.