Unemployment in city drops by 13%

Statistics released by the Office for National Statistics show that there were 3,120 people claiming out-of-work benefits at the end of September in the city council area, the lowest rate since January 2016.

With 485 fewer people claiming the benefits, the drop represents unemployment falling by 13% compared with the same time last year.

The figure also represents 185 fewer people claiming benefits since January this year, and 205 fewer than at the end of last month.

However, the unemployment rate in Dundee of 3.2% is still higher than both the Scottish average of 2.3% and the UK average of 1.9%.

The 25-49 age bracket saw the most people leaving out-of-work benefits in Dundee, with 125 people no longer claiming.

Jane McEwen, works service manager with the Department for Work and Pensions, based at the Dundee City Jobcentre i n t he Wellgate, said local, sector-based work academies were being rolled out again in November, in conjunction with employers and other training providers and agencies.

Ms McEwen said the academies would help to get people “job-ready” for roles in the care and construction industries, as well as warehouse and factory positions — with further details set to be announced shortly.

The DWP was also keen to highlight that among the larger employers in Tayside and Fife taking people on is the Amazon Warehouse at Dunfermline.

Jobcentre Plus staff and their employability partners will support jobseekers into work, including the vacancies with the mail-order giant, providing assistance with applications, CVs and interviews.

Elsewhere in Tayside, it was good news for residents in Angus as the rate of unemployment dropped to 2%, with 150 fewer people claiming out-of-work benefits.

In Perth and Kinross, there were 120 fewer people claiming out-of-work benefits, dropping to 995, which is just 1.1% of the population.

For both local authorities, this was the lowest unemployment has been since December 2016.

UNEMPLOYMENT has dropped to the lowest rate it’s been in Dundee for almost two years.

MEMBERS of Broughty Ferry Traders’ Association have got together to showcase the wealth of food and hospitality available in the area. The Ferry Food Fayre, at the Best Western Woodlands Hotel on Sunday, has grown after the popularity of last year’s...

Jane McEwen