Fife is one of Scotland’s top five unemployment blackspots, according to the latest figures.
The Office for National Statistics revealed 10,600 Fifers were on the dole last month, 706 more than the same time last year an increase of 7% making it the region with the fourth highest joblessness rate in Scotland.
The worst hit was Glasgow City, with 25,248 people unemployed, followed by North Lanarkshire with 11,504 and City of Edinburgh with 10,980.
Kirkcaldy is the worst hit in Fife, with 3102 people claiming jobseekers allowance the sixth worst of Scotland’s 129 Holyrood constituencies.
Long-term youth unemployment has also risen by an alarming 23% on this time last year with the number of young Fifers jobless for more than a year standing at 85, the highest since devolution.
The figures were called unacceptable by Labour MSP Claire Baker, who demanded urgent action.
The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP said, “These statistics reinforce the need to tackle joblessness in Fife head on. It has to be both the UK and Scottish Government’s number one priority.
“Yes, a bit of progress has been made on last month’s figures, but more Fifers are on the dole compared to this time last year.”
Fife Council leader Peter Grant pointed out the whole of the UK has a downturn but said he was confident progress was being made in creating jobs.
He said, “The Kirkcaldy Scottish Parliamentary constituency now includes areas such as Methil and Methilhill which historically have high levels of unemployment.
“However, we’re very, very confident that once the development of Diageo and the Fife Energy Park are complete we will see more employment prospects for people in the Fife area.’No specific ideas'”Some politicians are very good at demanding action but not so good at coming up with specific ideas of what action they want to see. Fife Council is very good at working with Scottish Enterprise and have had some spectacular successes on the jobs front in the last few years.”