Employment stats show jobs boost

New employment figures for Kirklees reveal 3,158 fewer people are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) than this time last year.

The 34.1 per cent reduction includes 960 people who are in the crucial 18-24 age group.

The number of people still on JSA is 6,910 – 2.5 per cent of the working age population.

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Kirklees employment and partnerships manager Ann Sykes said that, though figures for specific towns are not available yet, it is thought thatstatistics for the north and south of the district are similar.

Ann said: “I think the Dewsbury and Batley areas are benefitting form the market in Leeds.

“They can travel into the Leeds area, where the vacancies and opportunities are growing.”

Many of the jobs are in the financial and retail sectors, she added, along with more people working in call centres.

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However, it is not known what percentage of the figures include people working in temporary, full-time, or part-time jobs.

Ann acknowledged that the Christmas season is typically a time of year when job-seekers do take on temporary work, but added that the Job Centres in the district are working to help people keep these when their time ends.

The figures are in line with the national trend – 455,000 fewer people are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance than this time last year. And in Leeds, 683 more people are in work than a month ago.

Ann said: “It’s another positive message both nationally and locally.”