UNEMPLOYMENT is up year on year in Bolton.

Figures released yesterday by the Office for National Statistics show a six per cent increase in the number of claimants.

This is down 27 per cent over five years though.

Figures show the same trends for the 18-24-year-old aged bracket too. There has been a four per cent rise in those out of work compared to a year ago, though this is down 37 per cent over five years.

The most recent figures show there are a total of 6,190 people claiming out of work benefits in Bolton, compared to 5,865 people last month.

However, last month also showed a year on year rise in unemployment.

Penny Applegate, the Job Centre Plus partnership manager, explained a new 'Find a Job' service was being launched by Job Centre Plus to replace the Universal Job Match system which is ending in June.

She said: "Customers will need to register on this new site to find a job, it will be available 24 hours a day to search jobs, track activity and store CVs."

Nationally, unemployment is down 46,000 on the quarter, the employment rate is at 75.56 per cent, up 5.4 per cent since 2010.

The number of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people in work is up 475,000 since 2015.

Ms Applegate said this was being tackled in Bolton and the difference between the numbers of BAME people out of work and the average is hovering around 6.9 per cent.

She said while this is low compared to the national figure, it was better than nearby areas.

Secretary of State for work and pensions, Esther McVey, said: "Since 2010 we have seen more than 3.2 million people move into work right across the UK. Youth unemployment has fallen by over 40 per cent and the unemployment rate has not been lower since 1975.

"Today’s figures once again cement that turnaround, with a new employment rate record of 75.6 per cent, and on average over 1,000 people each and every day, since 2010, getting a job.

"With wages growing faster than inflation and increases in the personal tax allowance, not only are more people bringing home a pay packet but they are keeping more of their hard earned money for themselves and their families."