Unemployment dipped in Bradford last month, but parts of the city are still among Britain’s toughest places to find a job, according to new figures.

The number of people aged from 18 to 64 on Jobseeker’s Allowance fell from 19,369 in July to 19,023 in August – a drop of 346.

The latest figures from the Department of Work and Pensions show that 5.8 per cent of the local working population are officially job hunting.

But in Bradford West the situation is twice as bad as elsewhere in the district, claimed Respect MP George Galloway.

“Bradford West still has the sixth highest unemployment in the entire United Kingdom with 12.5 per cent on Jobseeker’s Allowance,” Mr Galloway said.

“It’s the epicentre of unempoyment in the area and nothing is really being done to address this.”

Bradford’s figure for jobseekers of 5.8 per cent compares with the rate in Yorkshire and Humberside of 4.3 per cent and a national average of 3.3 per cent.

Shipley MP Philip Davies (Con) said he was concerned about the faces behind the statistics: “Unemployment is not about numbers – it’s about people,” he said.

Keighley and Ilkley MP Kris Hopkins (Con) said it was good news in his constituency particularly for young people. “The number of unemployed claimants in Keighley and Ilkley has fallen significantly, both since last month and, even more so, over the past 12 months.”