PART of Glasgow has seen one of the biggest falls in unemployment, according to the latest statistics.

The drop in the rate of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance in Glasgow South West is the fifth highest in Britain.

A constituency breakdown of the latest labour market figures shows the area which includes Govan, Cardonald and Pollok witnessed a 0.8% drop in JSA claimants in the last year.

The fall is far bigger than the Scottish rate of 0.2% and the UK rate which was also 0.2%.

Glasgow North East, which includes Springburn and Dennistoun was also among those with the highest falls, at 0.6%.

Both areas however, are still among the list of the worst jobs blackspots in Britain.

Glasgow South West has an unemployment rate of 4.0% which is in the highest twenty parliamentary constituencies.

Glasgow North East is slightly lower at 3.8%, still well above the Scottish rate of 2.2% and the UK figure of 1.9%

The jobless claimant count in Glasgow overall fell by 0.5% with 1960 fewer men and women claiming JSA in January this year as there were the year before.

The impact of falling oil prices is seen with an increase in the north east with Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire both showing a rise in claimants of 0.7% almost 1000 people.

Politicians from both the Scottish Government and UK Government welcomed the overall figures with more people in employment and fewer claiming Job Seekers allowance.

Roseanna Cunningham, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work and Skills said: “Rising employment and falling unemployment are very welcome and an inactivity rate of 20.5 per cent is the lowest on record and the lowest out of the four UK nations.

“However, a number of significant challenges remain beneath these encouraging figures, such as the continuing low price of oil and the effect this is having on the industry and its supply chain.

David Mundell, UK Government, Secretary of State for Scotland, said: “It is welcome news that there are more people in work in Scotland than ever before, and that economic inactivity has fallen to a new record low.

“Despite these positive figures there is no room for complacency. The UK and Scottish Governments both have a responsibility to work hard and support the Scottish economy in difficult global conditions, and that is exactly what we must continue to do.”