UNEMPLOYMENT in York and North Yorkshire has increased for the second month in a row.

In York, 74 more people were claiming JobSeekers’ Allowance in February than January at 3,112, (2.4 per cent of the working age population).

This comes after 188 more people joined the register in January. This is the highest since August last year, although it is still a reduction on February 2012, when figures were 3,682 (2.8 per cent).

There were increases in unemployment nationally to 3.9 per cent and regionally to 4.9 per cent.

In Selby, 61 more people claimed JSA in February, up to 1,442, (2.7 per cent ); in North Yorkshire claimants rose by 92 to 9,257, (2.5 per cent), and Ryedale recorded just three more jobseekers. In East Yorkshire, claimants fell by seven people to 7,079.

In all areas, figures were down on February 2012.

Coun James Alexander, City of York Council leader, said the slight increase in unemployment was linked to seasonal patterns in employment particularly in the leisure and retail industry. Our focus must remain on creating jobs and growing the economy and we continue to be committed to initiatives which enable this, such as progressing key developments in the city.”

Gary Reilly, of Totaljobs.com in Yorkshire, said: “Although economic conditions have improved in recent months, with new jobs in sales, engineering and IT, we continue to see a fall in fall-time permanent positions, rising underemployment and increases in inactivity.

"The Government’s Welfare to Work programme is clearly not working and Ministers must act now to tackle long-term youth unemployment. Competition for jobs is also ferocious, with jobseekers having to compete against 17 applications per job in Yorkshire.”