The number of young people in dole queues in Bradford has fallen this month, but those on out-of-work benefits in some areas has doubled in five years.

In the Bradford South constituency, there were 1,110 people aged between 18 and 24 claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance in May - a fall of 15 from April - but up from 545 people in May 2008.

The figures for Bradford East have almost doubled in the same period, with 1,545 claimants last month, the same as in April, compared with 870 five years ago.

And the trend is the same for Bradford West, where there were 830 young people on out-of-benefits in May 2008. There were 1,570 signing on in May - the same as the figure for April.

In Keighley, the number of claimants fell from 660 in April to 635 last month, but have risen over the last five years from 370, whereas in Shipley the number of young people out of work last month rose by five, from 525 in April to 530 in May, compared with 310 in May 2008.

Unemployment across the district in general fell last month to 19,416 from 19,624 in April - but double the 9,456 claimants five years ago.

In Bradford South, the number of people claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance fell from 4,035 in April to 3,995 in May.

But Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe said while he was happy to see unemployment fall, he was concerned about those who were long-term unemployed, particularly young people.

“We need to look at what we’re doing to assist them.

“Part of the problem is that the longer someone is unemployed, the less employable they become.”

The number of people in Bradford East signing on last month was 5,494 - down from 5,541 in April.

Liberal Democrat MP David Ward said he believed Government schemes like the Youth Contract and an increase in appreticeships were making a difference but change wouldn’t happen overnight.

“I do my own business surveys on the high street and from speaking to businesses at the T&A Bradford Means Business Awards on Saturday, the atmosphere in the room showed that businesses are feeling confident.

“I think that’s half the battle in the creation of new jobs.”

In Bradford West, the number of people signing on in May was 5,552, down from 5,582 in April.

But Respect MP George Galloway said the unemployment rate of 12.1 per cent was the seventh-highest of all 650 Parliamentary constituencies, with one person in eight without a job.

“This is a continuing scandal,” he said.

“This Coalition government is attacking the welfare state and benefits claimants and is doing nothing to provide jobs. They claim that measures like the bedroom tax and capping household benefits is designed to force people into full-time work. But the truth is that there are no jobs. This endless austerity programme isn't working, like the one person in every eight in Bradford West.”

In Shipley, the number of people in dole queues fell from 2,045 in April to 2,016 last month.

Conservative MP Philip Davies said he was pleased for every person in his constituency who had found work, but admitted youth unemployment was a ‘long-standing’ issue.

“Youth unemployment stood at over one million when we took office and it’s an issue that’s not easy or quick to solve.

“It’s about tailoring things to each individual person - they clearly have some barrier that’s stopping them getting employed.

“In some cases we have second and third generations of families who have never worked and we need to break that cycle.”

Leader of Bradford Council Coun David Green said he welcomed a drop in youth unemployment, but said the figures may change once school leavers finish education in the summer.

“There is still a massive problem of youth unemployment in Bradford and it is something we need to tackle by working hard to give young people opportunities. That could be by creating jobs, or giving them skills or training.”

In Keighley, the number of claimants was 2,359 in May - down from 2,421 in April.

Conservative MP Kris Hopkins was unavailable for comment last night.