THE unemployment rate in Barnsley is lower than both the regional and national averages, latest figures have revealed.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics show that Barnsley’s unemployment rate stands at just 2.8 per cent.

This was lower than the average across Yorkshire and The Humber where four per cent of adults able to work were unemployed, and slightly below the UK unemployment rate of four per cent.

In Barnsley, 120,371 just over 75 per cent of working-age people were in employment in the year to June.

The ONS said the statistics should be treated with caution as it continues to overhaul its labour market survey.

It comes after a £338m investment into its Connect to Work programme which will deliver localised and tailored support to get people back into work, which was made in Barnsley, was launched.

South Yorkshire is set to receive up to £35.3m of that funding to help get almost 10,000 people back into work.

The scheme provides intensive, personalised help including individual coaching from employment specialists, job matching services, and ongoing support for both participants and employers to ensure sustainable employment outcomes.

Former Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall visited the town last July to hear about the project and it has since been rolled out across the entire country meaning the town is playing a vital role in getting people back into work.

And the latest figures are proving that it’s working.

Coun Robin Franklin, cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture, said: “Barnsley’s lower unemployment rate is a promising sign, but we know that many people who want to work still face challenges.

“That’s why our Pathways to Work model helps people take meaningful steps towards employment in a way that works for them.

“We know that for many, the hardest part is simply knowing where to begin.

“Whether someone is living with a health condition, caring for loved ones, or wants to build their confidence, our model is designed to meet them where they are and help them move forward.

“We remain deeply committed to making further progress.

“By working with partners across South Yorkshire, we’re creating new opportunities so that more people can realise their potential and build a future they may not have thought possible.”

Joseph Evans, research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research, said: “It’s a challenging market for jobseekers.

“Inactivity has dropped over the last year, meaning that more people are looking for work in a sign that the government’s plan to ‘Get Britain Working’ is bearing fruit.

“But businesses are recruiting less as the economy continues to adjust post-pandemic, so competition for job listings is getting fiercer.”

The ONS figures show 23% of the working-age population in Barnsley was classed as ‘economically inactive’ in the 12 months to June.

Across the UK the figure stood at 21.3%, slightly down from 21.6% the previous year.

Economically inactive people are those not in work nor looking for work. They include students, retirees and carers for example.

Charlie McCurdy, economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “While employment gaps across the UK have shrunk over the past decade, some regional labour markets are performing better than others.

“Over the past year, the number of payrolled employees has fallen throughout Britain, with only Northern Ireland recording a rise in employment.

“This poor performance has been most stark in the capital and has contributed to London having a higher unemployment rate than any other region of the UK.”