Drop in jobless figures

The number of people receiving jobseekers allowance (JSA) in Rutherglen and Cambuslang fell last month.

A total of 509 people were in receipt of the unemployment benefit across the two towns in March, a drop from 560 in February.

In Rutherglen 227 people are on JSA and 282 in Cambuslang. This represents a drop of 163 from the same period last year.

The figures do not include those receiving universal credit. This includes people who are unemployed and others who are in part-time work but are still in receipt of benefits.

The total number of people in receipt of UC and JSA stands at 925: 455 in Cambuslang and 470 in Rutherglen.

The unemployment statistics come after Flip Out, the world’s largest trampoline park, opened in Rutherglen, creating an employment boost.

The park, which opened earlier this month, has recruited 50 people to full-time posts and a further 100 part-time.

Knocks to the region such as the closure of some Kwik Fit outlets and the crash of BHS are having little impact locally, according to the Department of Work and Pensions.

A spokesman for the DWP said: “Several small employers approached us looking to recruit local people who we have supported. Examples of the small employers recruiting were Rutherglen Landscapes and the Italia Kitchen who were looking to recruit locally.

“We have also been working with a local recruitment agency At Work Scotland, helping them to fill temporary contracts in a local care home.”

Across Scotland unemployment has fallen by 47,000 in the last year. The unemployment rate has fallen by 0.5 per cent points in the last year to 4.5 per cent, below the UK rate of 4.7 per cent.