ACTION is under way to help young York adults find work after the latest Government figures revealed a tiny fall in those receiving unemployment benefit.

Council leader Andrew Waller said the decrease of 11 in the number of York people claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) – from 3,819 in August to 3,808 last month, was a “step in the right direction”.

But he said people should be cautious about putting too much weight on one month’s reduction.

He warned the 18 to 24 age group had been hit particularly hard by the recession, and pledged: “As a council we are looking at the steps that can be taken to help this group.

“There are parts of the York economy that are taking on staff, and we need to be doing all that we can to match people with vacancies.”

Coun Carol Runciman, executive member for children and young people’s services, said representatives of organisations such as the council and the National Apprenticeships Service had recently met to discuss ways of promoting apprenticeships in York and raising awareness of employers of the advantages they could bring.

At a recent post-16 event, held at York Racecourse, 1,500 young people and their parents had come to seek advice about opportunities for training and education as well as apprenticeships and jobs.

She said: “It is hoped that this will become an annual event.

“The 18 to 24 age group is more vulnerable to the recession as they may have few qualifications and little experience.

“Although the situation in York is no worse than other parts of the country, plans are being made to increase opportunities to build skills for jobs and prepare for employment.”

Labour leader David Scott said any drop in the jobless figures was welcome, but the council should not be complacent.

He said: “We know 16 to 24-year-olds are being let down by this council. It did not meet its targets last year and is well below meeting its target this year.”

The North Yorkshire County Council area saw an even smaller decline in the number of people claiming JSA than York, of just two, from 9,464 in August to 9,462 last month.

However, Selby district saw an additional 41 people across the area claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance in September, taking the total up to 1,746, or 3.5 per cent of the working age population.

The number claiming in East Yorkshire fell by 49, from 6,647 to 6,598 in September.