THE number of people looking for work in West Dunbartonshire has fallen by 20 per cent in the past five years, according to government research.

Figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed that 2,263 people were on the lookout for work across the local authority in 2022, a fall of 562 on the figure five years ago.

Numbers in the 18-24 age group show an 18 per cent fall in the number of people looking for work over the same period.

West Dunbartonshire’s figure is better than the stats for Scotland as a whole, which only show an 11 per cent drop in the amount of people looking for work over the past five years.

However, the number of people claiming Universal Credit in West Dunbartonshire rose month-on-month, with 9,472 claimants on June 9, compared to 9,327 on May 12. That’s a rise of 1.6 per cent - higher than the Scotland-wide rise of 1.3 per cent.

Kirsteen McInnes, employer and partnership manager for West Dunbartonshire, said: “Skilled Jobcentre work coaches are working harder than ever to help employers fill record levels of vacancies. It remains our top priority to match the right job with the right person.

“The Jobcentre continues to host local businesses looking to speed date with prospective employees.

"We have Ministry of Defence, amongst others, attending Dumbarton Jobcentre this week to support their recruitment for 50 new guards. We currently have 30 of our customers booked in with this employer.”

Alternative claimant count

The DWP figures report the 'alternative claimant count', measuring the number of people claiming unemployment related benefits by modelling what the count would have been if Universal Credit had been in place since 2013.

Ms McInnes continued: “From job opportunities in Jobcentres to skills academies for people considering a new career, there’s a huge amount of help available, and our work coaches are working tirelessly to get people at any age, or career stage, into rewarding and stable employment.”

Across Scotland, 2.686 million people are in work, up 24,000 on the quarter and a rise of 48,000 on the year.

Alister Jack, secretary of state for Scotland, said: “Today’s figures show Scotland’s labour market is strong, with an increasing number of people on the payroll and unemployment at historically low levels. 

“It's also great to see more women in jobs, with two million more women across the UK in paid work than in 2010.

“As we continue to focus on growing our economy and levelling up opportunities across the country, we’re helping as many people as possible onto the jobs ladder, as having a secure and stable income is one of the best ways to get on. Our Jobcentres and work coaches stand ready to provide support, while our £37 billion package to assist families with the cost of living is giving extra financial assistance to those who need it most.”