It has not been a good few years for anyone searching for a job, and youth unemployment continues to be a major problem, especially in this area.

That was why the Telegraph & Argus launched the Foundation for Jobs campaign in a bid to improve the lot of jobseekers, especially those new to the employment market, to try to avoid an unwelcome situation of a generation of young people growing into adulthood without the work ethic that our economy needs to thrive.

While no-one would say that the economy is out of the woods yet, there are signs of improvement and one of these indicators of recovery is the National Careers Service Job Confidence Index which shows that more people have a brighter outlook when it comes to finding employment.

People do seem to feel that as the economy gets back on its feet, jobs are becoming more available and opportunities are increasing. However, now everyone needs to build on this growing confidence to ensure that the recovery continues apace and people get into work.

One of the major problems hampering increased employment, according to the survey, is that job-seekers sometimes feel they don’t have all the basic skills to land themselves those jobs.

It is absolutely vital that young people especially, and those older people who have perhaps been out of the job market for some years, are given all the tools available to make themselves competitive and attractive to employers. This might be help with writing CVs, coaching on interview techniques or information on how to explore options such as apprenticeships.

With things improving, Bradford’s job-seekers must be in the best possible position to reap the benefits.