Young people on JSA drops by 945

File photo dated 19/11/12 of a general view of a Job Centre Plus offices in Derby city centre. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced today in his Autumn Statement of funding for Jobcentres to support 16 and 17 year olds in finding apprenticeship or traineeship. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday December 5, 2013. Photo credit should read: Rui Vieira/PA Wire

The latest round of stats from the Department of Work and Pensions, which show claims for JSA from December 2013-14, states there are 3,028 fewer claimants overall – a 30 per cent decrease.

Altogether, 945 young people (18-24) have stopped claiming in that period.

The DWP’s employment and partnerships manager for Calderdale and Kirklees Ann Sykes said: “It’s a positive picture again. I think we’ve demonstrated that we can continue with the decrease.

“Our plan is that we continue with the programmes which work – getting employers to come into the Job Centre to work face-to-face with the claimants. Employers then realise what scope there is out there.”

With many of the jobs in retail, hospitality and call centres, Ann said a lot of the vacancies filled are in nearby cities.

“There are vacancies in North Kirklees with smaller employers, but for the retail-type work a lot are having to go to the White Rose area and the Leeds area.”

However, it could not be confirmed how many positions filled were part- or full-time.

Overall, the number of those claiming JSA in Kirklees dropped from 10,971 in 2010 to 6,883 in 2014. of those, 3,235 were male. The local figures are in line with the national trend, with unemployement falling below six per cent for the first time in six years.