Jobs figures approach pre-crisis level

As a region, Yorkshire reached that point in October last year when the employment rate hit 71 per cent, as it was in mid-2008. It has now risen to 72 per cent, the equivalent of 16,000 additional jobs.

Laura Gardiner, senior research and policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation, said: “The jobs market has performed particularly well over the last two years, with only London and Scotland recording stronger growth.

“Although Yorkshire is gaining, it still has a lower employment rate than the UK average.

“As well as ensuring that recent strong growth continues, we need to be confident that the jobs driving the employment recovery in Yorkshire are of a high quality and not short term, unstable and low skilled.”