Britain's economic divide between north and south is alive and kicking despite competition for jobs falling to a two-year low, it was reported yesterday.

Long-term unemployment among 16 to 24-year-olds has also doubled in the past six months, suggesting that youth unemployment is reaching "crisis point," according to research from jobs site Adzuna.

Analysis of work patterns by the firm found that nine out of ten of the worst cities for employment prospects are in the north, while nine out of 10 of the best are in the south.

Adzuna co-founder Andrew Hunter said: "The government desperately needs to inject some cash into the north to even out our country's bi-polar jobs market. In areas like Salford the prospect of finding a job is still a titanic task, with over 30 jobseekers for each position."

TUC North policy officer Neil Foster seconded the call, blaming the coalition for scrapping "economic tools" such as regional development agencies.

Mr Foster said: "This is not a fair or a balanced recovery with jobs being created far quicker in London and the south-east than anywhere else. Ministers should be investing most in the underdeveloped regions to achieve the biggest economic returns for the country and to ensure inequalities don't continue to widen.

"Instead the coalition government has removed many of the economic tools we needed to recover in the north, while slashing budgets in poorest councils and investing most in London. Many paid jobs in the north are being replaced with insecure and low paid work. That's not a recovery."

Nationwide, vacancies have increased by a fifth to 800,000 over the past year, although advertised salaries have fallen by 4.4 per cent.