UNEMPLOYMENT has dropped to its lowest level since the early days of the Covid pandemic, new figures for the district show.

The latest data, from the Office for National Statistics, indicates a steady fall in the number of people on out-of-work benefits since March this year - a drop of 13.4 per cent in total.

The claimant count for the Bradford district for September is 27,705 - a rate of 8.3 per cent - and only slightly higher than then 7.4 per cent rate in April last year as the effect of the pandemic on jobs started to bite.

This compares to 28,300 in August, so is a drop of 2.1 per cent in a month.

However, Bradford is still among the worst affected cities in the country.

Alternative figures supplied by the Department for Work and Pensions, which aim to better take into account Universal Credit, indicated that unemployment in Bradford has fallen by 13 per cent in year across all ages with an even greater drop of 16 per cent in youth unemployment.

Nationally the number of job vacancies hit a record high of 1.1 million in the three months to September, as the post-pandemic labour market continued to recover.

There was also a record rise of workers on payrolls, back above pre-pandemic levels.

Employment was up to 75.3 per cent and unemployment down to 4.5 per cent.

Minister for Employment Mims Davies MP said: “With unemployment falling once again, and another record rise in the number of workers on employer payrolls, it's clear our plan to create, support and protect jobs is working.

"As we enter the next phase of recovery, the £500m boost to our Plan for Jobs will continue to deliver more skills and opportunities for people up and down the country whilst crucially helping to fill vacancies across growing sectors as we push to build back better.”

Fran Innes of the DWP in Bradford said: "We are working closely, in partnership with local businesses, to promote their vacancies, through jobsfairs and academies offering work experience and guaranteed interviews and training.

"We have employers on-site across all our offices offering jobs to young people, with many starting work the following week through the kickstart scheme."

She added that a jobs fair is running at the new temporary Aldermanbury House jobcentre on Sunbridge Road, tomorrow.

More than 25 employers were expected to attend alongside partners to support those in applying for these opportunities.

"We know that the pandemic has led to an increase in unemployment in those people aged over 50. We are focusing efforts on continuing to support them, through early and targeted employment, skills and employer led support to stay in, progress or return to work and to build their future financial resilience and wellbeing."

The job fair and partnership event running at Aldermanbury House on Wednesday is part of this focus.

Employers are also being supported through sector-based Work Academy Programmes – in logistics, hospitality and care.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@telegraphandargus.co.uk