Prospects for jobseekers in West Yorkshire are among the best in the country, according to two new reports – although permanent full-time roles are harder to come by.

The 2013 Barclays job creation survey, based on responses from more than 700 businesses, shows that Yorkshire is the most likely UK region to be creating jobs over the next 12 months.

And figures from the Totaljobs Barometer, which analyses the behaviour of 4.8 million jobseekers and 5,000 recruiters each month, show that the number of available jobs in Yorkshire has grown by six per cent year-on-year.

But the company’s regional boss called for more help for the long-term unemployed as the number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance had risen to a 15-year high in Yorkshire.

The Barclays survey showed that 68 per cent of Yorkshire firms surveyed will create jobs this year – up from 54 per cent a year ago. Also, 84 per cent of those questioned said they are not planning any job cuts.

Nationally, 71 per cent of mid-sized businesses are expecting to create jobs this year, up from 65 per cent in the 2012 survey, with 79 per cent not planning any job losses within the next 12 months.

More than a quarter of bosses welcomed the reduction in National Insurance in the 2013 Budget, in which Chancellor George Osborne decided to waive the first £2,000 employers’ contributions exactly what businesses want – saying it would have a major positive impact on the jobs market.

Tony Walsh, managing director for Barclays Corporate Bank in the North, said: “It’s extremely positive to see that Yorkshire and Humber has come out on top as the region most likely to create new jobs this year.”

Meanwhile, the Totaljobs Barometer said more vacancies meant that competition for jobs in Yorkshire had dropped from 17 applications per job from 19 a year ago.

Travel and tourism saw a 43 per cent year-on-year increase in jobs in Yorkshire.

Gary Reilly, regional manager for Totaljobs.com, said: “Although a rise in employment opportunities is welcomed news, we continue to see a fall in full-time permanent positions, rising underemployment and increases in inactivity.

“The Government, local authorities and businesses must continue to work together to strengthen the fragile recovery and return unemployment figures back to precession levels in Yorkshire.”