New figures show that unemployment has decreased in York compared with last year despite ‘large economic inequalities.’
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that around 2,300 people 16-years-old and over in York were unemployed in the year ending March 2023, a rate of 2.0 per cent compared with 2.6 per cent the previous year.
Of people aged 16-years-old to 64-years-old living in York, 83.6 per cent were employed in the year ending March 2023.
This is an increase compared with the year ending March 2022 when the local rate was 81.8 per cent.
York also has lower unemployment than many of its Yorkshire neighbours.
Bradford has 5.2 per cent unemployment, Hull has 4.5 per cent, Doncaster has 4.1 per cent, Sheffield has 4.0 per cent and Kirklees has 3.8 per cent.
Coun Pete Kilbane, deputy leader of City of York Council and executive member for transport and economy, said: “York’s economy continues to perform well with productivity levels that are among the highest in the region and low rates of unemployment.
“It’s great to see this reflected in national statistics.
“However, despite being the strongest economy in the region, York’s economy has large inequalities.
“This highlights the need for levelling up within York if our city, and the wider region, is to meet its full potential and become even stronger in the future.
“It is really important that the economy works for all of our residents.
“The continued success of our economy is testament to, and depends upon, the strength of our brilliant local businesses, renowned educational institutions and above all, the people of York.”
Across Yorkshire and The Humber, from the year ending March 2022 to the year ending March 2023, there was a decrease in the unemployment rate from 4.3 per cent to 3.5 per cent.
Year on year, the number of people unemployed in Yorkshire and The Humber fell from around 117,000 to around 94,900 over the same period.
In Great Britain, it dropped from around 1,350,000 people (4.1 per cent) to around 1,200,000 (3.6 per cent).
Across Yorkshire and The Humber in the year ending March 2023, 74.4 per cent of people aged 16 to 64 years were employed.
This was slightly higher compared with the previous year when 74.3 per cent of people were employed.