Edinburgh bucks Scottish trend as number seeking work rises

THE number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance is creeping up in the Capital, as the number of unemployed people across Scotland falls.

The headcount for JSA claimants in April hit 11,105 - the highest figure since this time last year. But the percentage of the population aged between 16 and 64 claiming has stood constant at 3.3 per cent for each of the past three months.

The figures come as statistics for Scotland showed that the number of people out of work across the country fell by about 8000 to 208,000 between January and March, compared with the previous three months.

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Development manager for the Federation of Small Business, Gordon Henderson, yesterday attended the first meeting of the city council's economic development strategic partnership, where he said employment was top of the agenda.

He had asked the council to consider setting up a scheme to help small businesses employ more staff and boost employment in the Capital.

"If the Government or the council could help very small businesses with the burden of taking on that extra employee then perhaps they might be encouraged to do so," he said.

A breakdown of the figures by ward shows that the highest rate of claims was in Forth, at 7.1 per cent, followed by Sighthill/Gorgie, where the figure was 6.9 per cent, and Leith Walk on six per cent.

Forth councillor Cammy Day called on the council to put more money into helping people into work in the worst-affected parts of Edinburgh: "I was advised at the Forth Neighbourhood Partnership by the head of the employability unit that the resources should be targeted by areas that are most in need.

"These figures indicate the need for more resources to come to the Forth Ward, at a time when the Lib Dem/SNP administration continue to cut funding to employability projects in the north of the city such as the North Edinburgh Trust."

Councillor Tom Buchanan, convener of economic development, said: "The city council is committed to reducing unemployment and co-ordinates a number of programmes to help those groups facing the greatest disadvantages into employment, education and training.

"We are particularly focused on youth unemployment and aim to boost the range of training and educational opportunities available, and with that, give them a leg-up into the labour market."