Jobless numbers falling

Fewer out of work

The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance has dropped across Hamilton.

According to the latest data from the Department of Work and Pensions, the year-on-year figures show 44 per cent fewer people are unemployed.

In May 2017 there were 608 people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and that had dropped to 338 a year later – a fall of 270.

The numbers relate to the town’s three council wards of Hamilton North and East, Hamilton South and Hamilton West and Earnock.

In May 2017 there were 186 people claiming JSA in Hamilton North and East – dropping to 109 a year later.

Hamilton South had 210 people claiming JSA in May 2017 – down to 97 in May 2018. In Hamilton West and Earnock there were 212 people claiming JSA in May 2017 – dropping to 131 a year later.

There was good news across the rest of South Lanarkshire, too.

In Larkhall, the number of people claiming JSA dropped from 197 to 97 over the year.

The figure in Blantyre dropped from 226 to 111.

In Avondale and Stonehouse, the amount of people claiming JSA fell from 82 to 52.

And in Bothwell and Uddingston, the number claiming JSA dropped from 66 to 30.

Across South Lanarkshire, the number of people claiming JSA fell from 2731 in May 2017 to 1510 a year later – down 1221 (44 per cent).

However, in neighbouring North Lanarkshire the figure was down just 86 from 3680 to 3594 (two per cent).