More people in work

Job stats released

Unemployment figures in Monklands over the past month have fallen compared with the same time period last year.

A total of 1695 residents of Airdrie & Shotts claimed Jobseekers Allowance in March – down 105 on 2016’s statistics and meaning more figures have halved since 2010.

The Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill ward saw 1645 unemployed residents; this was a drop of 35 from 2016 and 49 per cent fewer outofwork people than back in 2010.

The labour market figures also revealed the number of jobseekers across North Lanarkshire last month was 6210 – a 49 per cent decrease on 2010’s statistics.

The Office for National Statistics has confirmed that employment in Britain continues to run at a jointrecord high rate of 74.6 per cent, with 31.84 million people in work – a figure that hasn’t been lower since 1975.

Secretary of state Damian Green said: “This is yet another strong set of figures, with unemployment at a rate that hasn’t been beaten since the 1970s and more vacancies than ever before.

“There’s good news in S c o t l a n d w h e re unemployment has fallen by 47,000 in the last year and hasn’t been lower since mid-2008.

“The unemployment rate has fallen by 0.5 per cent in the past year to 4.5 per cent – below the national rate of 4.7 per cent.

“However, there is always more to do. That’s why we’re creating a welfare system that rewards work through Universal Credit, which helps claimants keep more of the money they earn.”