Region among weakest jobs performers in Scotland

LATEST employment data shows the number of employees on the payroll in Dumfries and Galloway was 59,012.

That’s down -0.4% on the same month of January last year.

However, there are signs of returning confidence among employers, with organisations reporting an increase of 19 on payroll over the past month.

But, overall, employment in Dumfries and Galloway remains lower than a year ago, with employers reporting payroll headcount down 265 year-on-year.

The figures are based on analysis of the latest Office for National Statistics payroll data by the employment and pay app WageSight.

Compared with other towns and cities in Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway ranks 21 out of 23, placing it among the weakest performers for employment change.

The trend in Dumfries and Galloway reflects a mixed employment picture across Scotland.

Nationally, employment levels have shown a mixed picture over the past year, creating a challenging backdrop.

Commenting, Paul Hebden, WageSight director, said: “Although employment in Dumfries and Galloway remains lower than a year ago, recent month-on-month figures suggest some stabilisation in recent months. Whether this marks a genuine turning point or a temporary pause in job losses will become clearer over the next few months.”

He stressed that it remains too early to say whether recent changes mark the start of a sustained shift, or a temporary fluctuation.