UNEMPLOYMENT across the district rose last month, according to the latest figures.

Released today (January 17) by the Office for National Statistics, the data shows that the number of people claiming out-of-work benefits in Bradford reached 22,215 in December.

This represents a 1.9 per cent rise on the previous month, a drop of 10.7 per cent on the same time last year, but a 39.7 per cent jump on December 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic.

This left a claimant count rate of 6.7 per cent in Bradford, compared to 4.0 per cent regionally and 3.7 per cent nationally.

Bal Singh, employer engagement manager for Bradford and Keighley Jobcentre said: “For the coming year, plans are already in hand to focus activity on helping businesses recruit, as there are plenty of vacancies available within the Bradford district.

“A number of job fairs will be held at Bradford and Keighley Jobcentres throughout the year to match people with suitable employers.

“The first of these will be held at the Bradford Business Park Jobcentre on 25 January with fourteen employers already signed up to attend.”

He added that changes to Universal Credit mean people are working more and keeping more of what they earn.

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