The dole queues in Bradford have shortened for the second time in as many months, with the number claiming out-of-work benefits nudging under 20,000.

Government figures released yesterday show there were 19,624 people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance in Bradford last month.

The figure was 20,017 for March, according to the Office of National Statistics, and 20,223 in February.

Bradford Council leader, Councillor David Green, welcomed the news but also exercised caution. He said: “Active involvement by the Council and its partners in developing employment and training schemes accounts for some of it, but not for all of it.

“The interesting figure is not those no longer claiming benefits – the figure we want is the number of people in work. People coming off benefits does not mean they are in work.”

Despite the month-on-month drop, the number of people claiming out-of-work benefits was 194 more than April last year. In Bradford East, the number of claimants for April was 5,541 – 95 less than in March, but 205 more than in April 2012. The constituency has the 13th highest level of unemployment in the country.

David Ward, Lib Dem MP for Bradford East, said: “I think it’s encouraging that unemployment in my constituency has fallen from a high in February of this year, but this is no cause to celebrate as there is still much to do because it’s still unacceptable.” In Bradford West, the unemployment figure fell from 5,647 in March to 5,582 in April, but was still 190 more than in April 2012.

Respect MP George Galloway said: “The unemployment rate in Bradford West continues to rise and is a tragic if ample testament to the failure of the Government’s austerity measures.”

Bradford South’s unemployment rate last month was 4,035, a fall from 4,127 in March. It was also 11 down on April last year. In Shipley, the unemployment figure fell from 2,116 in March to 2,045 last month.

The number of people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance in Keighley also fell from 2,491 in March to 2,421 in April. It was 2,317 in April last year.