WORKERS in Yorkshire felt better about their job prospects than they did only a month ago, said a survey.

The poll by independent campaign Keep Britain Working said its Job Prospect Index for Yorkshire stood at minus 15 this month compared with minus 34 in September.

Yorkshire & Humberside continues to improve from its low point of minus 50 last May when the Job Prospect Index was first calculated.

Across the UK, pessimism deepened in October as the Job Prospects Index totalled minus 21 against minus 17 in September.

The monthly poll asks an average of 2,000 people across the country if they are optimistic or pessimistic about job prospects. Pessimism was at its worst in May, giving an index score of minus 37.

The picture has improved month by month since then before falling back this month.

James Reed, chairman of recruitment group Reed and founder of the Keep Britain Working campaign, said: “Following the steady improvement since the low point in May this year, the latest Index figures reveal the first reversal.

“As recent UK economic figures demonstrate, this recession is not over yet, and concern for job prospects has risen in the last month.

“However, people do not feel as negative now as in the spring. Indeed in some key sectors – such as business services – the trend continues to improve.”