UNEMPLOYMENT in the district has hit a three-year high.

Data provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that there were 10,655 people claiming unemployment benefits across the Bradford district last month – an increase of 5.1 per cent, or 515 claimants, compared to September.

The data includes those claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit benefits principally for unemployment reasons.

Numbers of claimants increased in all five of the district’s parliamentary constituencies.

The largest rise was in Shipley constituency, which includes Cullingworth and Denholme.

It saw the total leap by 8.7 per cent, or 85 people, to reach 1,065.

In Keighley there was a rise of 8.5 per cent, a total of 105 extra people claiming, to reach 1,340.

Tracy Othen, partnership manager for the Department for Work and Pensions in Bradford, said: “Nationally the employment rate remains high at 75.57 per cent.

“Overall the claimant count in Bradford is still 37 per cent less than five years ago with that figure increasing to 52 per cent for 18-to-24-year-olds.

“We are continuing to work with employers and partners to identify opportunities for our customers.

“This is Disability Confident month, for example, and we are talking to employers that we work with to give them information about the scheme and how to sign up.”