JSA Claimants At 20-Year Low

The number of 16-24 year olds claiming jobseeker's allowance in Fife is at a 20 year low.

Just over one and a half thousand are unemloyed and looking for work- that equates to 3.7 percent.

But it's still higher than the national average.

Around seven million pounds is being spent by the Labour-led council on programmes to get youngsters into work.

Councillor Tony Martin, Chair of Opportunities Fife and Fife Council’s Youth Ambassador, said: "Through the £5 million Fife Youth Jobs Contract we have already placed 459 young people in Fife in to jobs between December 2012 and September 2014. We are also investing a further £2 million to get more young people into employment and training. I’m confident that we will continue to see more young people finding their way into employment. The progress we have made so far reflects the continuous hard work and collaboration between the Opportunities Fife Partnership organisations and Fife Council’s Economy, Planning & Employability Services. ”

Councillor Lesley Laird, Fife Council’s Depute Leader and Executive Spokesperson for Economy & Planning added: “While these latest figures show that we have the lowest 16-24 year old claimant rate for over 20 years we are still above the Scottish average. The gap is certainly closing and I’m confident that if we continue to work in partnership with Fife businesses and Fife College we can do more to reduce Fife’s JSA rate further to match the Scottish average.

"The Christmas build up has already started with many employers taking on a number of temporary Christmas staff. I am hopeful that these vacancies will give job seekers valuable work experience that could lead to permanent employment in the future.”