Dundee’s rate of unemployment rose to its highest level for 14 years last month.
In July 6,118 people, or 6.5% of the city’s population, were signing on for Jobseekers allowance.
The rate was nearly twice that of the UK total of 3.8%, while the Scottish rate was 4.3%
The figure also marks a steep incline from the same time last year when 5,859 were out of work and claiming Jobseekers.
Dundee’s unemployment rate was higher than that of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
The head of the Labour Party in Dundee, Kevin Keenan, hit out at the latest statistics.
He said: ”The city is crying out for action on jobs and the local economy. We need measures such as bringing forward investment projects such as the new Harris Academy, giving small firms a one-year national insurance tax break to allow them to take on extra workers and a temporary cut in the UK Government’s VAT rise, which would mean a £450 boost for families with children.”
Mr Keenan also proposed a cut in VAT on home improvements to 5% for a year.
He added: ”We need a fair and just tax on bankers’ bonuses to fund a real jobs guarantee for all young people out of work for a year and to help build many more affordable homes.”
Dundee’s unemployment rate is now almost twice that of Edinburgh and almost three times that of Aberdeen. It has also eclipsed Glasgow’s unemployment rate, which last month stood at 6.1% of the city’s population.
Mr Keenan said: ”So serious is the key issue of employment in the city that Dundee now has the highest jobless rate of the four traditional Scottish cities.
”Businesses across the city are already doing their best to help. It’s now up to the national governments to redouble their efforts to boost the local economy and get people back to work in Dundee.”
Photo by Danny Lawson/PA Wire