'Encouraging' job figures for South Yorkshire but fall in unemployment slows

There are 15,000 more people in work in South Yorkshire than six years ago

South Yorkshire has over 15,000 more people in work than it did six years ago, but the fall in unemployment is slowing, new figures show.

In 2010, there were 37,040 people out of work but this figure now stands at 21,945 - a 41 per cent drop.

But the job stats for many areas across county show the fall in unemployment is slowing down than in previous years.

Nigel Coleman, at Job Centre Plus, said the Sheffield figures had been fluctuating and added record employment levels across the country was partially to blame.

He said school leavers and university graduates would be included in the latest figures and predicts they will soon not be counted.

Just 35 more people are in work in Sheffield than they were in October 2015.

Comparing the same period, Doncaster had the sharpest yearly fall of seven per cent with 350 more people finding employment than 2015.

"There are many reasons to be extremely buoyant about these figures. There are so many positive stories out there.

"We've got lots of warehouse jobs for firms like Asos and Next in the Dearne Valley area. These companies are starting to put buses on for workers who live in Sheffield.

"We've been working with the NHS to advertise their latest admin vacancies across South Yorkshire. There are lots of vacancies in these areas."

Mr Coleman said he was 'very encouraged' by the success of two recruitment events for the planned Ikea store near Meadowhall.

Over 1,500 people turned up to find out more about the type of jobs the Swedish furniture giant has to offer.

Employment Minister, Damian Hinds, said: “Yet again we have a strong set of figures, with employment continuing to run at a record high and unemployment falling to a 11-year low. Growth is being fuelled by full-time professional jobs while wages are continuing to perform strongly, which underlines the resilience of the UK labour market.

“There’s good news in Yorkshire and the Humber, where there is a record of over 2.5 million people in work with a record number of 1.21 million women in work as well.

“The measures we have taken have put our economy in a position of strength, and we will work to ensure more people can benefit from these opportunities as we build a country that works for everyone.”