GLASGOW is outperforming the rest of Scotland in the jobs market with employment rising faster in the city than anywhere else in the country.

But a new report shows the South Side of the city is struggling, with high levels of young people out of work.

Experts have compared Glasgow with the other 31 Scottish local authorities to monitor how it is performing as the country starts to clamber out of the recession.

Their figures show the number of people in Glasgow in work rose "significantly" more than the national average between 2012 and 2013.

The number of people aged between 16 and 64 in work rose by 3.2% more than the Scottish level and Glasgow's youth employment - people aged between 16 and 24 - increased by 8% more than the average.

The performance figures mean the city is no longer bottom of the employment league table.

In 2008 it sat 32nd out of 32 local authorities but is now 30th, ahead of Dun-dee and North Ayrshire.

A report to councillors states: "Post recession improvements in the unemployment rate have been evident throughout Scotland, including Glasgow.

"At a national level, the Scottish working age unemployment rate fell at 0.2% between 2012 and 2013 while the youth unemployment rate fell by 0.1%.

"Glasgow outperformed the Scottish average on both levels as its working age unemployment rate fell by 1.1% and the youth unemployment rate fell by a substantial 7.9%."

In 2008, Glasgow had the second highest rate of unemployment in Scot-land - one place above North Ayrshire. But by 2013, the city had overtaken East Ayrshire, Dundee and West Dun-bartonshire, leaving it at 28 on the unemployment league table.

Experts also looked at a city breakdown of the number of people in the city claiming Job Seekers Allowance.

Springburn proved most resilient to the recession with the num-ber of benefits claimants rising by less than 28% compared to the average Glasgow increase of more than 46%.

The biggest increase in claimants was in Greater Pollok where the rise was almost 71%.

The report adds: "There appears to be a clear geographical divide in the areas of Glasgow that have suffered during the most recent recession. This geographical split may be set to continue."

It says post recession recovery levels between 2012 and 2013 show Pollokshields, Langside and Greater Pollok are among the bottom five in terms of the number of young people on benefits.

Experts also found that more than 42% of the city's working population have a degree level qual-ification, a rate bettered only by Edinburgh and East Dunbartonshire.

The report concludes: "The latest statistics demonstrate Glasgow is improving its labour market performance following its exit from the recession."

Liz Cameron, Glasgow City Council's jobs and the economy spokes-woman, said: "What is especially encouraging is the significant improvement in youth employment figures, an area vital for our future economic health."

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk