THE GMB union claims North Ayrshire is one of three areas that have missed out on an employment recovery.

The average rate of employment in the UK is 71.6 per cent and the current rate of employment in North Ayrshire stands at a lowly 62.7 per cent, over 12 per cent below the national average.

This rate is second only to Dundee, which currently has 59.6 per cent of its population in employment.

Of the three Ayrshire counties, only South Ayrshire is above the national average with 73.2 per cent employment. East Ayrshire on the other hand is number six on the list of Scottish Council areas with a rate of 68.7 per cent, 4.1 per cent below the national average.

Harry Donaldson, GMB Scotland, said: “The fall in unemployment is welcome.

"However, there are large swathes of the country and a great number of workers that have seen little or no benefit from this recovery.

“In places like Dundee City, North Ayrshire and Glasgow the level of employment is way below the UK average of 71.6 per cent.

"This needs addressing.

"Much of the growth is due to demographic factors and the increase in population means GDP per head is still 5.7 per cent below 2007 levels.” THERE is no room for complacency when it comes to unemployment.

That’s the message from two of North Ayrshire’s politicians.

North Ayrshire and Arran Labour MP Katy Clark said: “I agree with the GMB union’s comments.

"While any fall in unemployment is welcome, it is clear that the fall is affecting certain regions more than others.

“The Conservative-led Government like to talk about a recovery, but it is clear that it is a recovery for the few and not the many, with North Ayrshire and Arran in particular being left behind.

“Instead of cutting public services and freezing wages, we need to create jobs and improve people’s living standards.” But Cunninghame North SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson claims that “huge progress” has been made.

He said: “Unemployment is the biggest issue facing both Scotland and North Ayrshire and that’s why I organised and hosted a Jobs Fayre in Ardrossan in February and Beith last year.

“It is also why I welcomed an investment package of £4,023,500 to tackle youth unemployment in Ayrshire.

“The investment is expected to support 1,250 young people into work across Ayrshire and Arran.

“The number of young people in modern apprenticeships is at a record level in North Ayrshire - 987.

"Some 96.1 per cent of school leavers in North Ayrshire are in employment, training, higher or further education, the second highest improvement in Scotland.

“However, the SNP Government is in no way complacent and clearly there is much still to be done to create jobs both for Scotland and North Ayrshire.”