THE number of people in East Renfrewshire who are claiming out-of-work benefits has jumped by almost 15 per cent in the past year, while figures for Renfrewshire have remained static.

According to the Office of National Statistics, the total for the Barrhead area stood at 720 last month, compared to 630 in March 2016.

The latest figures show that 1.3 per cent of East Renfrewshire’s working population is claiming out-of-work benefits - lower than the 2.4 per cent total for Scotland as a whole.

In Renfrewshire, the total stood at 3,035 last month - exactly the same as the figure for March 2017.

This represents 2.7 per cent of the working population.

Minister for Employment Damian Hinds said the overall figure for Scotland has fallen by 47,000 in the past year and hasn’t been lower since mid-2008.

He added: “This is yet another strong set of figures, with unemployment at a rate that hasn’t been beaten since the 1970s and more vacancies than ever before.

“More people are finding full-time jobs and average wages have grown yet again, meaning more families have the security of a regular wage.

“However, there is always more to do. That’s why we’re creating a welfare system that rewards work through Universal Credit, which helps claimants keep more of the money they earn.”

Grahame Smith, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, believes the latest figures hide an “underlying weakness” in the economy.

He said: “Too many jobs are precarious and the number of those in part-time work but needing more hours remains high.

“Real wages are also stagnating, partly as a consequence of the Scottish and UK governments maintaining a one per cent public sector pay cap. Low pay, added to increased inflation, mean that many households are once again feeling the pinch.

“As recent figures show, poverty is rising and growth in the economy is close to zero.”