YORKSHIRE'S cities and towns are facing an employment crisis , needing thousands of new jobs for their economies to survive, according to research released today.

A report by the Centre for Cities thinktank has identified the scale of the "jobs deficit" facing the region with 69,500 posts required just to raise levels to the national average.

It reveals that even before the recession hit, many areas were struggling, with Barnsley, Bradford, Doncaster, Hull and Huddersfield losing private sector jobs. Now the likes of Hull and Sheffield face a combined deficit of nearly 40,000 posts.

Although Wakefield and York have successfully attracted new business and achieved employment rates higher than the national average, the Centre for Cities warns of tough challenges ahead for the new Coalition government.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer will publish his Emergency Budget on 22^nd June – and significant changes to the tax system are expected.

In order to ensure that the views of the Yorkshire business community are strongly and clearly represented, Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber is contributing to the British Chambers of Commerce’s Budget Submission to the Chancellor next week.

But before doing so, we need your views.