A European cash injection of more than £34 million will be invested in programmes to develop Scotland's workforce and safeguard and create jobs.

Speaking at a National Job Summit in Glasgow, First Minister Alex Salmond outlined the new allocations from the European Social Fund (ESF) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) that will help 28,000 people to gain or sustain employment opportunities through skills development and support the creation of 193 jobs.

Funding of £16 million will be invested in Community Planning Partnership initiatives to support and prepare people for work in Glasgow, Dundee, East Ayrshire, Fife, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.


This will help more than 23,000 people to find work.

Funding of £18 million will go towards 43 projects in the Highlands and Islands area which will provide more than 5,000 individuals with help and support to enter employment.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "The Scottish Government is doing all we can to ensure a strong economic recovery and to secure and safeguard jobs. We are using all our economic levers to support individuals, businesses and communities through the downturn and towards sustainable economic growth.

"This announcement of more than £34 million European funding will deliver vital support such as training opportunities to communities across Scotland, helping 28,000 individuals find fresh employment while assisting business growth, urban regeneration and rural development."

(GK/BMcC)