Jobless drop is welcomed by MP

A REDUCTION in the number of people out of work in the Far North has been welcomed by Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP John Thurso.

In April there were 1325 people claiming unemployment support – a drop of 121 from the previous month and 108 lower than in March last year.

"Over the last few months I have been meeting with businesses across the Far North and I have been impressed, particularly at the growth in the engineering and manufacturing-for-export sectors," he said.

"Seeing the better-than-expected employment figures shows that the economic news is genuinely improving."

However, he added: "Unemployment is still too high and nobody should be complacent, but this is a welcome move in the right direction which I hope will be repeated in the coming months."