Jobless rate up in end of year figures

Seven per cent rise is seen

Unemployment in Rutherglen and Cambuslang increased by seven per cent in the last three months of 2016, figures have revealed.

Quarterly stat i s t i c s, released by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), show on average 62 more people were seeking employment in October, November and December of 2016 compared to the same period in the previous year.

A total of 900 were recorded as receiving unemployment benefit in Rutherglen and Cambuslang in the month of January; 425 in Cambuslang and 475 in Rutherglen.

For the month of January alone, the claimant count - those in receipt of job seekers allowance and universal credit - increased by 3.5 per cent between 2016 and 2017.

However, the quarter three statistics, which look at a wider timeframe, show a greater decline, at seven per cent.

Andrew Weir, manager at the DWP, said: “There is a slight increase in the claimant count in Cambuslang over the last 12 months however, this is down to the increase in universal credit claimants.

“Claimants on universal credit can remain on universal credit even when they have found part- time work which can lead to an increase in the overall claimant count. You will note that the job seekers allowance count for the same period has seen a significant drop which gives a better indication of the position in Cambuslang.”

Margaret Ferrier MP said: “We can expect to see fluctuation in these figures as universal credit continues to roll out across the constituency. The DWP need to provide greater clarity on employment statistics, so that we can have a better understanding of what changes in claimant counts really mean.

“I’ve asked a large number of parliamentary questions of the DWP recently, and it is clear that they are not collecting sufficient information to properly assess the employment situation in the area. Until this changes, the case for closing Cambuslang Jobcentre simply cannot be made.”