UNEMPLOYMENT in Glenrothes and Central Fife is continuing to fall, the latest figures have revealed.

There are now 1715 people out of work in the constituency, which contains Cardenden and Kinglassie, 70 fewer than last month and a massive 621 less than a year ago, a reduction over the year of 26.6%.

Over the past 12 months, youth unemployment has dropped by 195 to 475 (a reduction of 29.1%), while the number of over 50s out of work has fallen by 120 to 305 (down 28.2%.) The number of long-term unemployed – those claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance for more than 12 months – has plummeted by 40.1%, from 685 in November 2013 to 410 this year.

Said MP Lindsay Roy, “The continuing fall in unemployment in Glenrothes & Central Fife is very welcome and the reduction of over a quarter in the past 12 months is very heartening.

"However, it must be remembered that many of the jobs that people have found are poorly paid or are part-time, and many more are on zero hours contracts. There has also been the loss of jobs at Velux, in Glenrothes, recently, so it would be a mistake to think that everything in the garden is rosy.”