Jobless total rises in York and North and East Yorkshire (From York Press)

Jobless total rises in York and North and East Yorkshire

9:38am Thursday 17th December 2009 in

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NEW figures have shown another sharp rise in the number of people out of work in North and East Yorkshire.

However, the increase in York and Selby was considerably smaller, possibly as a partial result of city centre retailers taking on extra staff in the run-up to Christmas.

The statistics show that 10,170 people claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) in the North Yorkshire County Council area in November, equivalent to 2.9 per cent of those eligible.

The number is up by more than 500 on the 9,650 people claiming in October, which was equivalent to 2.7 per cent of eligible people.

In November 2008, the number of claimants in North Yorkshire stood at just 6,430, or 1.8 per cent of those eligible.

The number of claimants in the East Riding of Yorkshire area rose by more than 250 from 6,694 in October – or 3.4 per cent of the eligible population – to 6,951 (3.5 per cent) in November. In November last year, there were 4,814 claimants, or 2.4 per cent.

In the City of York Council area, the number of claimants rose by 36 from 3,820 in October (three per cent) to 3,856 in November. In November last year, there were 2,430 claimants, or 1.9 per cent of those eligible.

York council leader Andrew Waller said there were some signs of stability in York’s latest figures. However, he feared the proposed rise in National Insurance payments in April 2011 could prove a tax on jobs, and start to affect business’s decisions in 2010 on whether to take on new staff – prompting further rises in the number of people claiming JSA next year.

In the Selby District Council area, the number of claimants rose by 11 from 1,684 in October (3.3 per cent) to 1,695 in November, with 1,029 claimants (two per cent) in November last year.