JSA Claim Rate At 7 Year Low

The number of people in Fife claiming Job Seekers Allowance has fallen to a seven year low.

Figures show just under 6-and-a-half thousand people are currently claiming - that's down by more than 2-and-a-half thousand in one year.

However, the claimant rate in Fife is still point 2-percent above the Scottish average.

Councillor Tony Martin, Chair of Opportunities Fife and Fife Council’s Youth Ambassador, said the figures are "encouraging" after month on month reductions in those claiming.

He said: “I am pleased to see a reduction of 825 young JSA claimants over the past year and I hope to see this trend continue with the extension of the Fife Youth Jobs Contract and announcement by the council of a further £2 million to help people find their way into work.”

Councillor Lesley Laird, Fife Council’s Depute Leader and Executive Spokesperson for Economy & Planning added: “This is another good performance for Fife. I am particularly glad to see the gap between Fife and Scotland closing again this month. Fife’s claimant rate is now just 0.2% above the Scottish average, compared to 1.2% this time last year.

“We clearly still have more work to do in order to come into line with the national average. It is important that we maintain our focus and positive partnership with business, education, and Fife College so that by working together we can continue to see a downward trend in JSA claimant figures as we see more Fifers get back to work.”