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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Stephen Houston

Dole queue in Renfrewshire plunges in just a year as more than 2,900 people get back to work

The Renfrewshire jobs boom has just reached a major milestone - with nearly 3,000 people less on the dole than a year ago.

The County is also beating the national trend downwards by a full seven percentage points.

It means there are now only 3,915 officially out of work and getting state benefits.

A year ago that figure was 6,879.

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The 2,964 drop equates to an astonishing 43 per cent reduction, the Office for National Statistics revealed.

Joanne Gallagher, the Department of Work and Pensions employer and partnership manager for Renfrewshire, hailed the news.

And she said there are now more jobs out there with employers desperate to fill them.

Joanne said: “A rise in vacancies is welcome news for jobseekers in Renfrewshire, and we would encourage employers to work with our network of jobcentres to find the right candidates.

“In particular the social care sector across Renfrewshire has a host of opportunities.”

Paisley Jobcentre is planning a care home campaign because there are so many jobs available.

Joanne added: “The Social Care Sector across Renfrewshire has a host of opportunity/vacancies for those that are new to care or have care experience. “Due to the volume of vacancies we are planning a Care Sector campaign to support recruitment.

“Should any one be interested in finding out more simply contact the Work Coaches at your local Jobcentre.”

Employment staff have been focusing on a work academy programme for all ages.

People get six weeks of training and then a guaranteed job offer at the end of it.

Results during the pandemic are said to be “fantastic”.

The latest unemployment figures showed an even better improvement in under-24s.

That figure has gone down by more than half - 52 per cent - from November 2020 to November 2021, reducing from 1,275 to 613.

In all ages in Renfrewshire the 43 per cent dip was better than the Scottish average, which was down 36 per cent.

The news has been tempered slightly in that another 181 people in Renfrewshire are now receiving Universal Credit.

In November the total was 14,061, and this went up 1.3 per cent to 14,242 by December.

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