Dole queues across Bradford shortened for the first time in four months in March, but the number of people claiming out-of-work benefits has continued to soar over the last quarter.

Government figures released yesterday show there were 20,017 people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance in Bradford last month, compared with 20,223 in February.

Youth unemployment also fell between February and March, from 5,870 in February to 5,715 in March.

But there are still 4,000 more people signing on than there were three years ago and the unemployment figure for Bradford increased between December and February – up from 19,432.

Bradford Council leader, Councillor David Green, said it was difficult to identify why March had seen a fall in the number of people looking for work, but believed the authority’s £1 million City Centre Growth Zone may have had an impact.

Eligible businesses can receive rate rebates if they demonstrate that they are creating new jobs in Bradford city centre.

“I know of a number of firms that have created 15 or 16 new jobs as a result of the fund and I believe there will be a high double figures number for the total number of jobs created,” he said.

“I’m delighted for the people who have found work, but in the long term the fact remains we need to continue to create job opportunities for people.”

The latest figures, published by the Office of National Statistics, showed unemployment fell across all of Bradford’s parliamentary constituencies in March.

The number of people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance in Bradford East fell by 26, from 5,662 in February to 5,636 last month.

But the constituency’s Liberal Democrat MP David Ward said unemployment in the area was “woefully high” and was the 14th worst in the country.

“A great deal of work has been done to try to get people into employment, including things like the Youth Contract, but I’m not complacent.

“In Bradford we have a rising young population and it’s a bit like trying to go the wrong way up an escalator, but a lot of hard work is going into trying to create jobs.”

In Bradford West, the unemployment figure fell from 5,728 in February to 5,647 in March - a fall of 81.

Respect MP George Galloway was unavailable for comment.

Bradford South’s unemployment rate last month was 4,127, a fall from 4,180 in February.

The constituency’s Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe said he was pleased the figure had fallen, but hoped it could be sustained.

“It’s good news and shows people have confidence in the city in terms of jobs being created and getting people into work, but we need to keep looking at these figures over a longer period of time.”

Shipley MP Philip Davies’ constituency, which was the only area in Bradford to see the Jobseekers’ claimant count fall in February, continued to see its unemployment figure fall from 2,135 in February to 2,116 last month.

He said it was a ‘massive personal bonus’ for each person who had found a job and believed the fall could be down to the Government’s welfare reforms.

“I’m delighted unemployment in Shipley’s continuing to fall and bucking the national trend.

“You have to remember these aren’t just numbers, they are people, and it’s great they have found work. “ The number of people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance in Keighley also fell from 2,518 in February to 2,491 in March.

Conservative MP Kris Hopkins was unavailable for comment.

Across Yorkshire, the number of people unemployed stands at 253,000 or 9.2 per cent, 11,000 up on the previous quarter.

The rate is the UK’s second highest, behind only the north east.