A total of 34 new positions have been created and filled as Bradford Council implements a £3.8 million strategy to tackle youth and long-term unemployment.

The update comes as new figures show that the number of 18 to 24- year-olds out of work in the district has increased by almost half in the last 18 months.

Currently there are 4,655 young claimants, which has increased 21 per cent over the year, but is still lower than the regional and national rises.

The go-ahead for the Future Jobs Fund was formally agreed in January, with the aim to create 594 jobs by July.

The positions will last for six months, with 60 per cent of the jobs targeted at 18 to 24-year-olds who have been claiming benefits for at least six months.

The remaining 40 percent will be aimed at over 25s who have been on Jobseekers Allowance for at least nine months and live in one of 13 wards that are hotspots for unemployment.

These are: Bolton and Undercliffe; Bowling and Barkerend; Bradford Moor; Eccleshill; Great Horton; Keighley Central; Little Horton; Manningham; Royds, Toller; Tong; Wibsey and Windhill and Wrose.

The Government funding is designed to create additional roles that would not exist without the Future Jobs Fund and they must provide community, social or economic benefit.

In six months, if the scheme has been successful, a further £4.3 million will be available to create an additional 656 jobs between August, 2010, and March, 2011.

The jobs are advertised on a rolling monthly basis and in January there were 48 vacancies, with 126 vacancies last month.

Seventeen people have started in their new posts each month so far.

Council departments have also been looking at where they can ‘host’ new jobs, and 39 jobs have been identified within the sports and culture section, such as tourism assistant, sports centre staff, sports and play leader, and outdoor adventure assistant.

In a Council report, Barra Mac Ruairi, the strategic director for regeneration, said: “In some areas of Bradford, over 13 per cent of 18-24 year-olds are claiming Jobseekers Allowance. In addition, some of the largest increase in unemployment since the onset of recession have been seen in the most deprived parts of Bradford.

“In response to this, Bradford – with the Council as lead accountable body – made an ambitious bid for funding through the Future Jobs Fund.”

The programme will be discussed as part of a report to the Council’s corporate improvement committee about the impact of the recession on the district. The meeting takes place on Wednesday at City Hall, Bradford, from 6pm.