The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance fell dramatically in Tayside, Fife and the Forth Valley last month.
Figures released on Wednesday show that, in percentage terms, there were double-digit drops in Dundee, Fife, Angus and Perth and Kinross, and 9% falls in Stirling and Clackmannanshire.
In Dundee, there were 4,738 people claiming JSA last month, down from 5,346 in August.
There was an even bigger fall in Fife. The claimant count fell from 10,559 to 9,087, a drop of 14%.
In Perth and Kinross, the number of JSA claimants fell by 10% to 1,707 and Angus recorded the biggest drop in percentage terms. The number of claimants plunged to 1,639 from 2,014, an incredible 19% fall.
Dundee City Council city development committee convener Will Dawson said: “It is pleasing to see the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in Dundee has gone down.
“We are striving to become a vibrant and attractive city with an excellent quality of life.”
North-East Scotland MSP Jenny Marra said, however: “More people are taking short-term or part-time contracts because long-term permanent posts aren’t available.
“This isn’t sustainable for our full economic recovery as people who have an uncertain financial future are less likely to spend money.”