More than a fifth of working UK citizens of working age are not working but York is bucking this trend.

The UK economic inactivity rate was 21.5% in the three months to January, marking a drop from the previous quarter and a relatively low number since trends began in 2009.

York is well below the national average with just 2.5% of the city not working.

This, however, was an increase on 2022’s figures which had the unemployment rate at just 1.8%.

York Job Fair hopes to tackle this slight increase with more than 1,000 people attending the event last week.

Wendy Mangan, Employer & Partnership Manager for York & North Yorkshire, speaking to York Press said “The York Jobs Fair which took place last week at the Barbican Centre, proved to be a resounding success.

“An impressive 1,151 attendees made the most of the opportunities available. The event brought together jobseekers and employers, creating valuable connections that are already leading to interviews and potential job offers.”

In the aftermath of the jobs fair, York job centre is working with employers to help jobseekers gain new skills, build confidence and secure a job, with a Sector-based Work Academy Programme.

Jobs such as cleaners, teaching assistants and hospitality workers are set to be included in the SWAP campaign to encourage the small percentage of those not working in York into these areas.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the latest employment figures “demonstrate the scale of the challenge we’re still facing to get Britain working again”.

Labour has targeted an employment rate of 80% and the figure currently stands at 75% nationwide.