Updated: UNEMPLOYMENT in York, North and East Yorkshire is the worst it has been in the last decade, new figures have revealed.

In February, 3,395 people claimed Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) in York – which means 361 people joined the dole queue last month.

The last time this figure was so high was February 1998, when there were 3,400 claimants.

In North Yorkshire, 9,791 people sought the benefit last month – a massive increase of 1,556 from January.

Meanwhile, the number of jobseekers in East Riding of Yorkshire shot up from 6,121 in January, to 6,917 the following month. The jobs woe also hit Ryedale, where the number of people claiming unemployment benefit rose from 592 in January to 729 last month.

Andrew Waller, leader of City of York Council, said: “In percentage terms, we are still well below the national average.

“But certainly the increase is something that we are all taking very seriously.

“That is why I am pressing for as much public works to be done as possible to provide construction industry work.

“We are also looking at how the skills funds that are available nationally can be dipped into to help businesses reduce their wage bills in the current climate.

“What this would do is help keep people in employment, but recognise that many businesses are on short working weeks.”

Susie Cawood, head of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said although the number of unemployed people in the city was rising, it was important to remember there were still jobs available.

“There are still vacancies in York and North Yorkshire, and there has been some excellent news this week of jobs being created,” she said. “We’re lower than the national average and lower than the regional average. While it is dreadful news for people concerned, there are jobs coming to York, there are vacancies, and there are a lot of people looking into becoming self-employed.

“Let’s hope these people can find jobs and avoid becoming long-term unemployed.”

Coun Ian Gillies, leader of the Conservative group on the city council, said: “What we should be doing now is preparing for the upturn.

“What we need to do is to help the people who find themselves unemployed, because obviously they have got mortgages to pay and families to bring up.

“It’s imperative we do everything we can to support them and find work for them, and work towards the economic development of the city.”