By Stuart McFarlane

THE youth employment rate across Dumbarton and the Vale is at its highest level in 13 years, new figures have shown. 

According to data from the Office for National Statistics, 2,150 people in West Dunbartonshire aged between 18-25 claimed employment benefits in March this year – 1,510 men and 640 women – a drop of almost 10 per cent on the same period last year.

Although the 5.7 per cent West Dunbartonshire total is still above the Scottish average, which stands at 3.6 per cent, it is still the lowest number of claimants recorded since 2004. 

The improvement has been welcomed by politicians, who say it is a sign work to create employment opportunities for young people in West Dunbartonshire  – including apprenticeships and jobs – is bearing fruit. 

Jackie Bailie, Dumbarton and the Vale’s MSP, told the Reporter: “These are very welcome figures which show that West Dunbartonshire is bucking the national trend once again by creating jobs. 

“Across Scotland unemployment and economic inactivity are up and our economy is lagging behind the rest of the UK. Over the past five years the Labour-run council has made tackling unemployment a top priority by creating 3,000 jobs and apprenticeships and these figures show that the strategy is working here.” 

Elsewhere, the figures showed youth unemployment across Scotland fell by 15,000 people in the months to March this year, currently sitting at 4.5 per cent, with the rate across the UK at 4.7 per cent. 

Martin Docherty, West Dunbartonshire MP, said: “While the figures show Scotland’s labour market is strong with unemployment falling and our female employment rates and youth unemployment rates outperforming the UK, the workforce is still shrinking.

“The SNP Scottish Government are doing all they can to support employment, but clearly the biggest threat to Scotland’s labour market and economy continues to be a hard Brexit. 

“The current UK Brexit strategy threatens to cost our economy up to £11bn a year from 2030 and cost the country 80,000 jobs over the coming decade.”