Fewer jobless but more not working

THERE was mixed job news ahead of the election as unemployment levels fell sharply in Yorkshire and across the country, but the number of people classed as "economically inactive" hit record levels.

By The Newsroom

Published 17th Mar 2010, 20:37 BST

Updated 17th Mar 2010, 20:37 BST

There was a surprise 33,000 fall in unemployment totals to 2.45 million in the quarter to January 2010, and a 32,300 cut in the numbers claiming jobseeker's allowance last month to 1.59 million.

In Yorkshire, the total number of unemployed people fell by nearly nine per cent, to 230,000.

Other figures showed a 149,000 rise in the number of economically inactive people to 8.16 million, equating to 21.5 per cent of the working age population. The category includes students and the early retired.

Yorkshire