More than 3,500 people in the Bradford district have joined the dole queue in the last year as the UK’s unemployment rate increased to a 16-year high, it was revealed yesterday.

The number of people in the district claiming jobseekers’ allowance jumped to 19,493 in January, compared to 18,583 the previous month – 5.9 per cent of the working population.

The figures published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed that 3,585 more people were out of work than this time last year.

Bradford Council’s regeneration chief, Councillor David Green, said the rise in unemployment was a “significant issue”.

It means that the percentage of all those of working age across Bradford and receiving benefits is the highest in West Yorkshire and one per cent above the Yorkshire average of 4.9 per cent.

Coun Green said: “Bradford, like every other town and city in the country is suffering from the national and international recession and we have seen unemployment rise nationally as well as locally.

“In Bradford, we have had a number of companies which have had financial difficulties and have left people out of work.

“We are starting from a high unemployment figure, so an increase in the unemployment rate is a significant issue.”

He said the Council would support growth in the private sector so that companies can provide jobs for “disadvantaged groups” such as the long-term unemployed, young people and those with disabilities.

Coun Green said: “We realise that for people who have had employment, it is easier for them to find jobs than for those who have not been employed for a long time or have never worked and we are hoping to tackle this.

“We are also pushing ahead with regeneration and employment schemes, particularly in the city centre and the Aire Valley corridor, because we realise that the council has to support and enable private sector investment.”

Unemployment across the UK jumped by 48,000 in the quarter to December to 2.67 million, the worst figure since the end of 1995. The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance rose by 6,900 in January to 1.6 million, the 11th consecutive monthly increase.

Other data from the Office for National Statistics showed a 22,000 increase in youth unemployment to 1.04 million, which includes 307,000 in full-time education who were looking for work.