INVERCLYDE’S unemployment rate is among the worst in the whole of the UK according to new figures.

Statistics published by the Office of National Statistics revealed there were 2,505 people out of work last month.

It means just under seven per cent of the Inverclyde population aged 16-64 are unemployed – the eighth worst rate of all 650 UK constituencies.

The average across the country was 2.5 per cent.

The area’s jobless figure is up by nearly 900 compared with August 2016.

Inverclyde MP Ronnie Cowan believes the shocking statistics strengthen his calls for Port Glasgow Jobcentre to remain open to help constituents find work.

The Scarlow Street office is due to shut on October 30 – five months earlier than originally planned.

The MP met with minister for employment, Damian Hinds, at Westminster to discuss the matter after he rejected an invitation to meet locally.

Mr Cowan said: “During the meeting with the minister I pressed upon him the unique geography and employment problems relating to Inverclyde.

“I urged the minister not to treat Inverclyde with a broad brush, rather look at the circumstances and issues relevant to this specific area when deciding the future of our job centres.”

Department for Work and Pensions bosses say the merger of Greenock and Port Glasgow job centres is designed to make ‘best use’ of available space, offer a ‘more efficient service’ and deliver ‘good value’ for taxpayers.

Officials say there has also been a sharp reduction in the number of people using the Scarlow Street branch in recent times.

Mr Cowan was also told during his meeting with the minister that Greenock job centre is under-utilised by around 40 per cent and that even with the addition of the Port clients it will still be underused.

But the MP says he was told the Dalrymple Street office is safe.

Mr Cowan said: “I raised the issue of the long term future of the Greenock site and asked for assurances, which I received, that it will remain.”