The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Tayside is at its lowest level since 1975, new figures have revealed.
Good news from the Office of National Statistics was added to by employment in Scotland reaching a record high, as 22,000 people found work in the last three months of last year.
Roseanna Cunningham, the Scottish Government’s cabinet secretary for fair work, skills and training, described the figures as “very positive”.
The Perthshire South and Kinross-shire MSP said: “While some volatility remains, the highest level of people in employment since records began demonstrates that we are on the right track with continued improvement in the latest quarter.”
Scottish Secretary David Mundell also welcomed the figures but stressed there is “no room for complacency”.
Jane McEwen, work service manager at the Dundee Jobcentre, hailed the figures and highlighted opportunities which still exist locally.
She said: “Tayside’s employment rate is rising to a new record high of 74% and the proportion of young people in work or full-time education is 86%.
“The (job seekers) claimant count is at its lowest level since 1975, with 370 fewer claimants in Dundee than a year ago. In Tayside, there are 455 fewer claimants than a year ago. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)service centre at Lindsay House is recruiting and has 60-80 vacancies.”
Ms McEwen highlighted the case of Steven Barclay, who joined the DWP last March having been unemployed for six months.
He will begin a promoted post on Monday after becoming involved in internal training programmes.
There were 2,636,000 Scots recorded as being in work between last October and December, making it the second consecutive month that official figures have put employment at its best ever levels.
The jobless total fell by 5,000 over the quarter to 162,000, but the Scottish unemployment rate continues to be above UK levels, with 5.8% out of work, compared with 5.1%.
Almost three-quarters (74.8%) of Scots classed as being economically active are in work, compared to the rate of 74.1% across the UK as a whole.
The latest figures, from the Office for National Statistics, also showed a drop in the number out of work and claiming job seeker’s allowance.
This fell by 3,200 from December to stand at 60,700 in January a drop of 21,100 on the same month in 2015.