The findings were revealed in the latest local economic report published by Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce.

The document noted a decrease of 0.5 per cent during the 12-month period.

It found that of residents who are regarded as economically active, 5,800 Renfrewshire residents were reported as being unemployed between April 2014 and March this year.

That amounts to a 6.4 per cent rate of unemployment, a decrease of 400 people from the previous year’s statistics.

The rate of unemployment for males is 7.4 percent, amounting to 3,400 people, and for women the figure stands at 3.5 per cent or 1,600 would-be workers.

In neighbouring East Renfrewshire, the findings are not so good with a rise in unemployment of 0.3 percent to 4.9 per cent.

The rate among economically active males in East Ren is 5.3 per cent (1,300) and 6.3 per cent for females (1,400).

A total of 217 new businesses were set up in Renfrewshire during 2014, while there were 118 business start-ups in the East Renfrewshire Council area.

Statistics on the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS), which provides non domestic rates relief to small businesses in Scotland, show that 2,475 Renfrewshire firms benefited to the combined tune of £5.1 million.

While in East Ren, 774 businesses received a combined total of £1.7 million through the scheme.

The report also goes into some detail about the national economic picture and notes that for Scotland as a whole unemployment decreased by 13,000 from the previous year’s total of 155,000.

The figure represents an unemployment rate of 6.6 per cent which is the same for the UK combined.

In summary, the report states: “Over the second quarter of this year, the construction and manufacturing sectors reported a return to the very strong results recorded during 2014, after a decline in some performance variables such as new contracts and cash flow last quarter.

“Results for the retail and wholesale and tourism industries in Q2 were fairly typical compared with seasonal averages, but the financial and business services sector experienced its poorest performing quarter since being introduced into the indicator in Q1 2014.” It goes on to say the results suggest continued growth of the Scottish economy over the second quarter of 2015 but, citing the “relatively poor” performance of the financial and business services sector, the report sounds a note of caution.

It states: “However, given that the financial and business services sector contributes more Gross Value Add (GVA) to the Scottish economy than any other (approximately 28 per cent), and a significant proportion of firms in the sector reported lower capacity utilisation levels, reduced employment and stagnant sales over the quarter, there are reasons to be concerned about the subsequent impact on the Scottish economy of a relatively poor quarter for the industry.” Finally, it touches on concerns about the low global market price for Brent crude oil and it impact on the wider economy It continues: “The average price of Brent crude oil per barrel has remained at low levels throughout 2015 so far and long term low oil prices represent a challenge not only for the oil and gas sector and the North East of Scotland, but for every business in Scotland that makes up the supply chain of firms in the industry.”