UNEMPLOYMENT across Bradford has fallen slightly for two months in a row - the first time since before the Covid lockdown over a year ago.

Data released by the Office for National Statistics shows there were 30,925 people across the district claiming unemployment benefits last month.

Adjusted figures for April are 31,995, with March at 32,190 - an overall fall of 3.9 per cent, or 1,265 people, from March to May.

Despite the fall, it still leaves a rise of 81.0 per cent from March last year when the first lockdown took place.

The drop appears to coincide with lockdown restrictions easing, and certain industries being allowed to open back up again.

The figures also show that the claimant count has dropped from a high of 9.7 for the past three months, to 9.3 per cent. This is still much higher than the Yorkshire figure of 6.2 per cent and the national figure of 6.0.

It would also appear that both the district and regional rate have fallen by similar levels.

Analysis by Centre for Cities shows that despite the falling claimant count, Bradford still has the second highest figure nationally, with only Birmingham higher at 9.5 per cent.

This is despite both areas having seen similar falls this month. Back in March, Bradford was fourth.

The Centre for Cities UK unemployment tracker looks at how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting unemployment in cities and large towns.

Fran Innes, lead partnership manager at the Department for Work and Pensions, said they were incredibly busy in Bradford right now.

She said that a Youth Hub and recently opened in Bradford, and another was due to open shortly in Keighley. In addition the Government's restart programme for people that have been out of work for 12 to 18 months is due to start at the end of this month.

Furthermore, she added that they are also running some 'Live Lounges' to support people applying for vacancies through the Government's Kickstart scheme for 16-to-24-year olds.

She said of the Live Lounges: "We've had employers in to talk to young people around what the expectations are and to give them some extra support with that.

"We've got really good feedback on that, so we're going to continue with them throughout June and July."

Of the Youth Hub, she added: "We've also opened up a Youth Hub in Bradford with DWP work coaches situated in the hub at Forster Community College. We've got a collective of partners that are all involved in the youth hubs. So, there's a really good range that meets the needs of our customers."

She added that they were continuing with the sector-based work academy programmes, currently in areas such as the care industry, hospitality, warehousing, bakery, security and digital communications as well.

There is no update as yet on the planned three new job centres across the district - two in Bradford and one in Keighley - following the recruitment of more than 160 new work coaches in the area.

A digital jobs fair will be held on Twitter on June 23.