UNEMPLOYMENT in the Borders fell by 5.9% in the period between February and March in line with Scotland and the UK.
And over the past 12 months, the numbers of jobless in the region have fallen by a massive 20%.
Councillor Graham Garvie revealed the figures at Walkerburn Community Council and said: “This is a remarkable reduction in a year and it seems to be the pattern across the Borders.” For Innerleithen and Walkerburn only 60 residents (2.8%) are now claiming benefit. The number of claimants for Peebles and District East is identical (2.7%).
In the Borders as a whole there were 1,760 jobseeker’s allowance claimants compared with 2,210 12 months ago.
Community councillors in Walkerburn heard that jobless figures might be reduced even further with plans to renovate the old Tweeddale Mills buildings in the village.
Community councillor Iain Weir said: “The hope is that this work will create 30 jobs and anything that can be done to make it neater round there will be all the better.”
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