UNEMPLOYMENT in the district has reached its lowest February figure in 12 years, according to the latest data released today.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that there was a total of 9,090 people claiming unemployment benefits across the Bradford district last month.

This is an increase of 4.5 per cent or 390 people on the previous month, but the figure is a drop of 1.7 per cent, or 160 people, on the same period a year ago.

In addition the last time the unemployment figures for Bradford dropped below 9,000 in February was in 2006.

The claimant count rate rose slightly to 2.7 per cent across the district, compared to the regional figure of 2.4 per cent and 2.1 per cent nationally, both of which increased marginally on the previous month.

This set of data from the ONS includes those claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance and those claiming Universal Credit benefits principally for unemployment reasons.

Tracy Othen, skills manager, at JobCentre Plus in Bradford, said: “Again the overall figures this month show an increase in employment against the same time last year.

"In our jobcentres we work to support people with finding work that matches their skills, and suits their circumstances."

She added that a Step Into Work event held in Bradford earlier this month had been successful at bringing jobseekers together with employers and training providers.

Across the district’s parliamentary constituencies, the number of claimants rose in all five areas.

Bradford South saw the smallest increase at 3.3 per cent, or 60 claimants to reach 1,885. There was an increase of 3.4 per cent in Shipley, where the number of claimants reached 910, 30 up on the previous month.

In Bradford West there were 120 more claimants last month, a rise of 4.5 per cent to reach 2,760 people.

Meanwhile Keighley saw a 4.7 per cent increase in claimants, equivalent to 50 people, to hit 1,105.

The largest increase came in Bradford East with an extra 125 claimants, a rise of 5.4 per cent to reach 2,430 claimants.

In Yorkshire and Humber the claimant count also rose, by 1,199 on the previous month to 78,650.

Nationally the figure was 837,795, a rise of 9,238 claimants over the same time period.

The figures also show that 402,000 more people have moved into employment nationally in the last year, with the employment rate 75.3 per cent, - the joint highest since records began.

Secretary of state for work and pensions Esther McVey said: “Getting a job means securing an income for a family and the chance to build a better future. That’s why up and down the country we are doing all we can to help people into work.

“And from next month, we’ll be taking thousands more people out of paying tax and also increasing the National Living Wage, benefitting those on the lowest pay and making sure they keep more of what they earn.

“In fact by raising the National Living Wage we have ensured that the lowest earners have seen their wages grow by almost 7% above inflation since 2015.”