EMPLOYMENT levels in York will not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2022, research suggests.

More than 5,000 residents were unemployed in August 2020, according to a report for City of York Council.

Residents will be asked what new skills they want to learn, how secure they feel their job is and what they feel about their career prospects as part of a plan to boost employment after the pandemic.

"Forecast modelling undertaken by Oxford Economics predict that the hit to York’s gross value added [the contribution made to the economy] will not be regained for three years, with local employment returning to pre-pandemic levels in 2022," a report for a meeting about the city's economy says.

It adds: "We have a strong knowledge economy which has grown, with more than 14,000 high skilled jobs created in York since 2008.

"We also have the highest level of skills of any northern city. With significant new developments coming forward in the city, York Central, Hudson Quarter and the Guildhall, we can expect further growth in well-paid jobs."

It adds that the proportion of self-employed people has grown, but the cost of living in York is "challenging".