KEIGHLEY'S jobless total has risen.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the parliamentary constituency last month was 1,430 – up by 90, or 6.7 per cent, on October.

Across the Bradford district, the claimant total saw its biggest rise of the year – by 645, or six per cent, to 11,330.

The data from the Office for National Statistics includes those claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit benefits principally for unemployment reasons.

In Bradford the “full service” introduction of Universal Credit began in June, following on from the benefit being available for new, single claimants from the end of 2015.

Tracy Othen – partnership manager for the Department for Work and Pensions in Bradford district – said high numbers in the claimant count were expected with the statistics now fully factoring in those in receipt of Universal Credit, which replaces a number of benefits.

She added: “We are always looking at ways we can support our customers in moving forward.

“One of these is what we call Building Bridges events, which are run for different groups."

All five of the district's parliamentary constituencies saw an increase in unemployment levels.

The smallest rise was in Shipley, which includes Cullingworth and Denholme. It saw an increase of 15 claimants, or 1.4 per cent, taking the total to 1,085.