The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in Bradford has doubled in the past six years, figures show.

The city is ranked as one of the region’s top unemployment black-spots in research by the Trades Unions Congress, which says 16,178 people were claiming the benefit in March.

According to the figures, there were 9.1 people for every job advertised in Bradford job centres, where there were 1,785 positions available.

This compares to 8,307 people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in March 2005, when there was a ratio of 1.3 people per vacancy.

Across Britain, the number of claimants per vacancy has quadrupled from 1.5 in 2005 to six this year.

Councillor David Green, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration and economy, said: “The level of unemployment has been of great concern to the Council over the past year and the recognition that the numbers of people claiming benefits and seeking employment has increased is something we have been trying to address by concentrating on delivery of new investment and new employment.

“But that’s been made increasingly difficult with the number of public sector cuts the Council is being faced with, which makes it difficult for us to work in partnership with potential investors and help support the people on benefits seeking employment to gain skills and re-skill.

“While we are making progress with less resources, times are going to be extremely tough so it’s vital, particularly in relation to the city centre, we get in a position where we can deliver the opportunities for people to find employment and continue to build on the progress we have made in the last 12 months, working in partnership with all sectors of the economy.”

  • Read the full story in Monday's T&A