UNEMPLOYMENT in Yorkshire and the Humber has more than halved since 2010, according to new Government statistics.

The number of people in employment in the region has risen by 19,000 on the year, to a near record high of 2.58 million, while unemployment has fallen nationally by more than 1.1 million since 2010.

The figures were released yesterday as a York and Ryedale Jobcentres manager told how staff were currently working with many hospitality and retail employers in York to help them fill vacancies by arranging ‘sector based work academies’ and interview days.

Jenny Shaw, employer and partnership manager, said it was working with Debenhams, B&M, Poundstretcher, Smyths Toys, The Range and the Spar, who had many vacancies including Christmas jobs.

She said: “In the hospitality sector, we are supporting recruitment for Mecure York Fairfield Manor, the Grand hotel, the Marriott hotel, Travel Lodge, Café Rouge and Wagamama’s.”

She said the next York Jobs Fair would take place on September 26 at the Railway Institute between 10 am and 2pm, with prospective employers there including Flamingo Land, York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Marriott Hotel, Gear4Music, McDonalds, John Lewis, the Grande, Mecure Hotels, North Yorkshire Police, The Hilton and Marks and Spencer.

A Ryedale Jobs & Careers Fair would also be held between 11am and 2pm on October 10 at the Milton Rooms, Malton, with employers attending including Karro Foods, Whitby Fishing School, Castle Recruitment, Yorkshire in Business, the Army, RAF, Royal Navy and Nationwide building society and Bluebird Care.