Jobless total falls in York, North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire

The number of people claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance (JSA) in York dropped between May and June by 274 from 3,738 to 3,464, or 2.7 per cent of those eligible – the lowest figure since February last year.

But York Central’s MP Hugh Bayley raised concerns yesterday with the Prime Minister about future unemployment trends, following public sector cuts in the wake of Chancellor George Osborne’s tough Budget.

The Labour MP asked David Cameron during Prime Minister’s Questions whether, taking account of the measures in the Budget, he believed unemployment in the north of England in 12 months’ time would be higher or lower.

Mr Cameron said the Office for Budget Responsibility was forecasting a fall in unemployment in every year during this Parliament.

“That is because, like others – like the OECD, which made it so clear yesterday that the Budget is courageous, responsible and right – we are putting this country back on the path to prosperity from the complete picture of ruin that the last Government left.”

Mr Bayley later told The Press: “I only hope he is right.”

York’s Liberal Democrat council leader Andrew Waller said York’s figures showed a continued movement in the right direction, with a significant drop over the last two months in the 20 to 24 age group.

“The rates are now down to those of the February 2009 period,” he said. The new figures showed the number of JSA claimants in North Yorkshire decreased from 9,168 in May to 8,600, or 2.4 per cent, while in East Riding of Yorkshire, the figure dropped from 6,337 to 5,881, or three per cent.

In the Selby district, the number of people claiming JSA fell from 1,593 to 1,487, or 2.9 per cent. In Ryedale, the number of claimants fell from 656 to 600, or 1.9 per cent.

The statistics followed the national trend, with the number of claimants falling nationwide by 20,800 and the total number of unemployed now standing at 2.47 million.