PRESS RELEASE

June 1st, 2011

Inverclyde needs plan for jobs

 

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil has called on the SNP Government to bring forward a plan for jobs after the latest figures revealed Inverclyde has one of the highest unemployment rates in Scotland.

 

In particular, youth unemployment was the sixth worst in Scotland, with nearly one in 10 people aged between 18-24 on job seekers allowance.

 

Across all age groups, the unemployment rate was five per cent, well above the national average (4.1 per cent).

 

Duncan McNeil, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, said: “It is clear that jobs and opportunities for young people are the priority for people and these figures show the scale of the challenge we face.

 

“People facing unemployment or who currently can’t get a job are becoming impatient with a government which is allowing constitutional point-scoring to  dominate the political debate rather than focussing on jobs.

 

“It is time to use the powers that we do have to bring about the apprenticeships, job placements for the unemployed and support for the small business who create new jobs.

 

“Nothing less than this direct action will do.”

 

 

ENDS

 

CLAIMANT COUNT BY LOCAL AUTHORITY

Figures as at April 2011

 

 

AGED 16-64

 

AGED 18-24

 

Area

Number

Rate

 

Area

Number

Rate

1.

Glasgow City

25,515

6.2

1.

North Ayrshire

1,485

12.6

1.

North Ayrshire

5,355

6.2

2.

West Dunbartonshire

1,065

12.1

2.

West Dunbartonshire

3,645

6.1

3.

Clackmannanshire

515

11.9

3.

Dundee City

5,315

5.7

3.

East Ayrshire

1,290

11.9

4.

Clackmannanshire

1,810

5.5

4.

North Lanarkshire

3,400

11.4

4.

East Ayrshire

4,325

5.5

5.

Falkirk

1,395

10.7

5.

North Lanarkshire

11,580

5.4

6.

Inverclyde

755

10.2

6.

Inverclyde

2,640

5.1

7.

Renfrewshire

1,480

9.7

7.

Renfrewshire

5,435

4.9

7.

South Lanarkshire

2,605

9.7

8.

Falkirk

4,610

4.6

8.

Midlothian

675

9.6

9.

Fife

10,665

4.5

9.

Dumfries & Galloway

1,015

9.5

10.

South Lanarkshire

8,810

4.3

9.

South Ayrshire

870

9.5

 

Scotland

141,485

4.1

10.

Glasgow City

6,440

9.2

11.

South Ayrshire

2,865

4.1

10.

West Lothian

1,375

9.2

12.

Midlothian

2,045

3.9

11.

Fife

3,120

8.7

12.

West Lothian

4,470

3.9

12.

Scottish Borders

685

8.5

 

UK

1,516,005

3.8

13.

Angus

685

8.4

13.

Dumfries & Galloway

3,175

3.5

13.

Dundee City

1,555

8.4

14.

Angus

2,300

3.4

 

Scotland

40,020

8.1

15.

East Lothian

2,030

3.3

14.

East Lothian

620

7.8

15.

Edinburgh City

11,050

3.3

 

UK

428,985

7.3

15.

Stirling

1,890

3.3

15.

Moray

525

7.3

16.

Argyll & Bute

1,810

3.2

16.

Argyll & Bute

485

6.9

17.

Eilean Siar

490

3.0

16.

Highland

1,085

6.9

17.

Scottish Borders

2,115

3.0

17.

Eilean Siar

100

6.0

18.

Highland

4,070

2.9

18.

East Dunbartonshire

535

5.9

19.

Moray

1,580

2.8

19.

Stirling

565

5.6

20.

East Dunbartonshire

1,845

2.8

20.

East Renfrewshire

410

5.4

21.

East Renfrewshire

1,395

2.5

21.

Perth & Kinross

680

5.4

22.

Aberdeen City

3,555

2.4

22.

Edinburgh City

2,810

4.9

22.

Perth & Kinross

2,255

2.4

23.

Aberdeenshire

750

4.1

23.

Aberdeenshire

2,455

1.6

24.

Aberdeen City

950

3.8

24.

Orkney Islands

185

1.5

25.

Shetland Islands

60

3.6

25.

Shetland Islands

215

1.5

26.

Orkney Islands

45

3.4