The number of people in Monklands - and North Lanarkshire as a whole - claiming Universal Credit rose last month.
In the Airdrie and Shotts ward, 8864 claims were submitted in early July, which was an increase of 169 on the month before.
Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill saw 9426 claims made - a rise of 99 on June's statistics.
There were 34,463 people claiming Universal Credit in North Lanarkshire during early July, meaning 475 more residents than the previous month made claims.
A DWP spokesman told Lanarkshire Live : "In North Lanarkshire we are working with employers and have large numbers of vacancies currently or in the pipeline for call centre agents, warehouse and logistics operatives and care sector.
"The Kickstart Scheme is creating vital jobs to help young people get on track and we’re providing local support to employers of all sizes, in both rural and urban areas, to help them apply and recruit - and more than 40,000 young people have already started Kickstart jobs.
"We’re also working with UKHospitality to better promote jobs in the sector via our network of Jobcentres.
"Our focus now is on our multi-billion pound Plan for Jobs, which will support people in the long-term by helping them learn new skills and increase their hours or find new work.
"The £2bn Kickstart Scheme will provide high quality, six-month placements. Funding available for each six-month job placement will cover 100 per cent of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week - and employers will be able to top this wage up.
"The scheme will be focused on supporting young people who are on Universal Credit and at risk of long term unemployment."
Minister for welfare delivery, Will Quince, said: "Universal Credit continues to support people across the country.
"We’ve hired 13,500 new work coaches to offer claimants individual tailored support, and our Plan for Jobs is helping them into the sectors that are recruiting.
"Anyone who thinks they may be eligible to benefit should head to the Understanding Universal Credit website to find out more."
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