Scottish jobless total rises by 5,000
The Scottish unemployment rate is now 8%
THE number of Scots who are out of work has risen to 215,000, new figures revealed today.
Official statistics showed the jobless total - which includes those who are out of work but not eligible for benefits - rose by 5,000 over the three months from July to September.
The unemployment rate now stands at 8 per cent - slightly lower than the UK rate of 8.3 per cent.
Total unemployment in Scotland for July to September was, however, 14,000 less than the same period last year.
And the number of people who are out of work and claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance fell by 900 from September to 143,700 in October.
But this total is 8,300 more than it was in October 2010.
Employment in Scotland also fell by 28,000 over the three months from July to September, with 2,478,000 Scots in work.
However, the Scottish employment rate of 71.2 per cent is higher than that the 70.2 per cent for the UK as a whole.
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said the latest figures were “a stark reminder we cannot allow any let-up in our efforts to get the economy back to full health and people back into work as soon as possible”.
He added: “Each of these numbers represents an individual or a family directly affected by the economic downturn and the UK Government is doing all it can to create growth and reverse this trend.”
Mr Moore went on: “The urgency of protecting the UK economy has never been clearer as we witness events in the eurozone. It is essential that we keep working towards securing strong and sustainable growth for the long term.”
He stressed youth unemployment was a “specific concern” that he will raise at a meeting with employment and skills experts next week.
Mr Moore said: “That will help shape the objectives of Scotland’s first national youth convention I have organised for March next year, which follows on from a series of seminars across Scotland. These have brought together council leaders, employers, UK and Scottish Government agencies and local providers to work harder and better for the benefit of jobless young Scots.”
Meanwhile Finance Secretary John Swinney stressed that the labour market in Scotland “continues to outperform the UK as a whole, with lower unemployment, higher employment and lower economic inactivity rates”.
However, he said: “The increase in the number of people out of work reinforces the urgent need for the UK Government to deliver a Plan MacB approach immediately to ensure that the recovery being built in Scotland is not derailed by Westminster’s wrong-headed economic policy.”
Mr Swinney called on the coalition Government to “deliver real action” by providing increased capital expenditure and improved access to finance for medium and small-sized businesses, as well as introducing measures to boost economic confidence and income security.
On youth unemployment, the Finance Secretary highlighted the “record” 25,000 modern apprenticeship places the Scottish Government was providing every year throughout this parliamentary term and the Opportunities For All programme which guarantees a training or learning place for all 16-19 year olds.
These measures, Mr Swinney said, “will help give our young folk the life chances and opportunities they deserve”.
He said: “The Scottish Government’s Plan MacB economic approach is helping to ensure that employment in Scotland is higher than for any other nation in the UK and unemployment lower. Unemployment in Scotland is 22,000 lower than at the peak of the recession in 2010 but for the UK as a whole, joblessness is the highest since 1994.
“More needs to be done to strengthen recovery, and with control of all the economic and financial levers, the Scottish Government could do even more to maximise our economic potential and Scotland’s competitiveness.”
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Comments
There are 63 comments to this article
Page 1 of 5
Jimmy Neutron
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 01:00 PMunemployment in Cumbria has fallen from 2.9% to 2.8% Westminster doing OK for them.
Jimmy Neutron
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 11:17 AMStop buying from and awarding contracts to overseas would be a good start! Why buy things in when we could invest in our own peoples future and make in scotland? Whatever happened to "silicone glen" what country was your car made in? Your washing machine? Your tyres? Your boiler? Most people don't give it a thought and buy products without considering if there a uk sourced alternative. The Germans don't buy anything foreign that is made in Germany.
A Thouroughly Decent Bloke
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 11:12 AMI blame the SNP for a rise in yoof unemployment and congratulate Osborne for keeping Scotland overall unemployment figure below UK average--------------------------------or--------------------------I blame Osborne for a rise in yoof unemployment and congratulate the SNP for keeping overall Scottish unemplyment at below UK average-------------------------------or--------------------------------I blame Osborne for the rise in yoof unemployment and blame Osborne for keeping Scottish unemployment below UK average.
brownlie
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 11:06 AM55 Independence now-----------------------------------------------Do you blame the SNP for the rise in youth unemployment?
Independence now please
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 11:02 AMComment removed by moderator
A Thouroughly Decent Bloke
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 11:00 AM56 - Jimmy - tell me what actions you have in mind that our incumbant MSP's can do.
A Thouroughly Decent Bloke
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:58 AM55 - I just did have it both ways. I blame the SNP for a rise in yoof unemployment and I blame the SNP for keeping overall unemployment below UK average. See? Both ways.
Jimmy Neutron
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:54 AMLowland Scott: have yourself a wander round central Scotland in places like grangemouth or visit ayrshire and you tell me SNP have done a good job. If it wasn't for Edinburgh the Scottish unemployment figures would be well below UK avarage. We need new industry and we need it now! Politicians only say words to please we need ACTION not words.
Independence now please
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:48 AMComment removed by moderator
A Thouroughly Decent Bloke
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:38 AMI'm an SNP supporter and I blame the SNP for an increase in yoof unemployment and specifically blame them for keeping unemployment levels below UK average levels.
Independence now please
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:32 AMComment removed by moderator
Jimmy Neutron
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:32 AMIf I was ever in that position I'd go to college and train to be worth more, I'd do anything to get out of that rut. No better than a common thief these people who WON'T work. They should get offered a job if they don't take it then bye bye benefits! Granted this situation shouldn't exist but these people are stealing from all of us hard working individuals.
A Thouroughly Decent Bloke
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:11 AM49 Jimmy - not the guys fault but more the fault of the benefit system surely? Human beings are just that, beings and not human doings. Given a similar circumstance, I'm sure 9 times out of 10, we would choose the same course.
Jimmy Neutron
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 09:49 AMBad cash management has played a big part in this but its wrong to blame it entirely on the government whilst living alongside scrounging underclass, they are the enemy within.
Jimmy Neutron
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 09:44 AMLowland Scot: I believe the only way forward is invest in sustainable exportable industry and force the scrounging underclass off benefits and into jobs. One guy I once interviewed had the audacity to tell me he would not accept a job offer of less than £12 an hour as he'd be worse off than on benefits! This was a guy with not a single skill or qualification that had been unemployed for 20 years. I terminated the interview in disgust. This cannot continue, paying proffesional breeders more than a hard working man is a disgrace and these people should be 'ratted out" by Joe public rather than tolerated and ignored.
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