THE number of jobseekers across the Bradford district has fallen for the second month running, with the figures described as "great news" - especially for young people wanting to find work.

There were 150 fewer 18 to 24 year-olds claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) in August than July, down to 3,570 from 3,720, equating to a current rate of 7.4 per cent.

The total number of residents aged 16 to 64 claiming JSA across the district stood at 14,225 last month, down from 14,728 in July.

This equates to 4.3 per cent, the lowest rate since January 2009, although the figure remains above the regional figure for Yorkshire and the Humber of three per cent, and the 2.3 per cent national average.

A Bradford spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: "The figures for Bradford are telling us there has been a drop again this month, which is great news."

"We have 5,000 fewer Jobseeker claimants than one year ago, that's 25 per cent less, and that includes 2,000 younger people aged 18 to 24, 35 per cent less than a year ago.

"The overall claimant rate in Bradford has seen a drop of 500 this month, and we are pleased with that.

"We have been working hard with employers and our training partners to make that happen.

"The economic picture is looking better nationally with all the indicators looking positive.

"People are employing more, we are seeing less zero hour contracts and more full-time work on offer."

The number of people claiming JSA fell across each of the five parliamentary constituencies across the district from July to August, although all remain on or above the national average rate of 2.3 per cent.

Bradford West saw a reduction of 207 people to 4,109, or 5.9 per cent, the figure fell by 120 in Bradford East to 4,109, or 5.7 per cent, and the figures dropped by 88 in Bradford South, to a rate of 4.3 per cent.

David Ward, Liberal Democrat MP for Bradford East, welcomed the news, adding the rate had fallen below pre-general election figures from May 2010.

“The consistent and sustained fall in unemployment in Bradford demonstrates the success that this Government has had with the stewardship of the economy," he said.

“Whilst I’m confident that unemployment will continue to fall over the long term for Bradfordians, we still have one of the highest unemployment levels in the country so there is still much more we need to do to make sure that we bring more investment and more jobs back to Bradford.”

The number of people claiming JSA in Shipley fell by 40 to 1,392 last month, a rate of 2.3 per cent, while the figures for Keighley saw a drop of 48 claimants to 1,538, a current rate of 2.6 per cent.

Kris Hopkins, Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley, said: "Every new job created in Keighley and Ilkley is excellent news for the individual affected and their family, and there is every indication that the trend in job creation in the constituency is set to continue.

“The fall in local youth unemployment is hugely welcome as we need our young people to be constructively engaged and contributing to the growth of our economy."

Nationally, unemployment fell by 146,000 to 2.02 million in the three months to July – its lowest level since 2008.