Unemployment down in Yorkshire

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that a total of 240,000 people were unemployed in the region between October and December. The region’s unemployment rate was 8.6% and it saw a fall of 3.2% during the period.

Employment Minister Esther McVey said: “With employment continuing to increase, it’s clear that the Government’s long-term plan to build a stronger, more secure economy is helping businesses create jobs and get people into work.

“Record numbers of women are in work and youth unemployment continues to fall, which means more people have the security of a regular wage and can plan for their future.”

Unemployment nationally has continued to fall and a record number of women are in work, new figures revealed.

The jobless total was 2.34 million in the final quarter of last year, down by 125,000, giving a rate of 7.2%.

The number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance dipped to 1.22 million in January, down by 27,000 - the 15th consecutive monthly fall.

More women are in work than at any time since records began in 1971, at just over 14 million.

But 1.4 million people are in part-time jobs because they cannot find full-time work, a fall of 29,000 over the latest quarter but 46,000 higher than a year ago.

Youth and long-term unemployment have both fallen, but there has been little change in the number of people classed as economically inactive, which has remained just under nine million.

The total includes people on long-term sick leave, students, those looking after a sick relative or those who have given up looking for a job.

Employment now stands at more than 30 million, a rate of 72.1%, which is 0.6% higher than a year ago.