UNEMPLOYMENT in the district has risen above the 10,000 mark for the first time in more than three years, according to the latest figures.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that there were 10,085 people claiming unemployment benefits across the Bradford district in September.

This compares to 9,510 the previous month, an increase of 6 per cent, or 575 more claimants.

The last time the number of claimants reached this level was in July 2015 when the figure was 10,320.

The claimant rate also increased to 3.1 per cent locally, with the regional and national figures remaining static at 2.5 and 2.2 per cent respectively.

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

The number of claimants also rose in all five of the district’s parliamentary constituencies.

The biggest increase was in Bradford East with an increase of 7.2 per cent, or 185 people, to reach 2,745 claimants in September.

In Keighley there was a rise of 6.9 per cent, 80 extra people claiming, to reach 1,235 claimants last month.

There was a jump of 6.7 per cent in Bradford South to reach 2,065 claimants, with an extra 130 people claiming in the constituency.

In Shipley the number of claimants rose by 60, a jump of 6.6 per cent, to hit 975 claimants in total.

The smallest increase was in Bradford West, which saw a 3.9 per cent rise, of 115 people, to reach 3,065 claimants.

The number of claimants in Yorkshire and Humber rose by 1.8 per cent or 1,555 people on the previous month to reach 88,466.

Nationally the figure was 942,883, a rise of 18,536 or 2.0 per cent, over the same period.

Other national figures show that youth unemployment has halved since 2010 and that Britain's unemployment rate has fallen to 4 per cent - it has not been lower since 1975.

Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey said: “This month’s figures show youth unemployment has fallen by 50 percent since 2010, down to a new record low, showing our welfare reforms are working and giving young people a better future.

“We want to empower young people; open up new career opportunities – deliver a brighter future for them."

Minister of State for Employment Alok Sharma added: “And with unemployment at its lowest since the 1970s, since 2010 there are more people with the security of a job, more people with a regular salary, and more people able to support their families - and that is thanks to action this Government has taken to build an economy that works for everyone.”