UNEMPLOYMENT in the district has risen to match the highest point this year, according to the latest government figures released today.

As of September the total number of people in Bradford claiming unemployment benefits was 9,375, up by 5 from the previous month's figure of 9,370.

This equalled the claimant count of March - the highest in 2016 - and represents a small increase of 0.05 per cent on August, but is still a 3.3 per cent fall on the same time last year and a 31.5 per cent drop on two years ago.

It also pushed the unemployment rate back up to 2.9 per cent of the district's working age population. this compares to 2.2 per cent regionally and 1.8 per cent nationally.

The data from the Office of National Statistics includes both people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and those claiming Universal Credit benefits principally for unemployment reasons.

Across the district's five parliamentary constituencies, Bradford East saw the biggest fall at 1.1 per cent less than the previous month, with 2,665 claimants, or 30 fewer people.

Keighley saw a drop of ten claimants, or 1.0 per cent, to reach 1,035.

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins said: “The independent Office for National Statistics has said that, nationally, jobs were continuing to be created over the summer with vacancies remaining at high levels, suggesting continuing confidence in the economy.

“This is clearly reflected in the figures for Keighley and Ilkley where the unemployment trend remains downwards with many local employers also telling me that they plan to recruit more staff.”

Shipley's claimants fell by 0.5 per cent, or five people, reaching 915.

Increases were seen in both Bradford West and Bradford South, with claims in the former rising by 1.4 per cent or 40 people, and in the later by 0.3 per cent of five people. This saw 2,875 claiming in Bradford West and 1,880 claims in Bradford South.

Nationally the unemployment rate remained at a record high of 74.5 per cent with 31.8 million people now in work, up by more than 560,000 in the past year.

And in Yorkshire there is a record 2,545,000 people in work, up 27,000 on the previous period.

Employment Minister, Damian Hinds, said: “Once again it’s great news for Britain as the employment rate remains at a record high with more than 31.8 million men and women in work.

“There’s good news in Yorkshire and the Humber, where there is a record of over 2.5 million people in work and a record number of 1.21 million women in work as well.

“But there’s more to do, particularly when it comes to supporting young people into employment. We want to build a solid base for the future, that’s why today I have announced the roll out of our Jobcentre Plus Support for Schools scheme in England which will give tens of thousands of young people help in taking their first steps into the world of work.”

Heather Barraclough, employer and partnership manager at Jobcentre Plus in Bradford, said the scheme was to begin shortly in Bradford.

She said: "We can help to bring our experience into schools and ensure that they are making young people aware of all the opportunities open to them after schools."

Of the district's claimant count she added that the month-to-month figures did not account for the seasonal nature of work.

She also added:"We tend to talk about the figures in quite an impersonal way, but each number relates to an individual person.

"It's important to focus on what we are doing for these people and what opportunities are available to them."