June 1st, 2011
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 focusing 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.”
CLAIMANT COUNT BY LOCAL AUTHORITY
Figures as at April 2011
| AGED 16-64 | AGED 18-24 | |||||||
| Area | Number | Rate | Area | Number | Rate | |||
| Glasgow City | 25,515 | 6.2 | North Ayrshire | 1,485 | 12.6 | |||
| North Ayrshire | 5,355 | 6.2 | West Dunbartonshire | 1,065 | 12.1 | |||
| West Dunbartonshire | 3,645 | 6.1 | Clackmannanshire | 515 | 11.9 | |||
| Dundee City | 5,315 | 5.7 | East Ayrshire | 1,290 | 11.9 | |||
| Clackmannanshire | 1,810 | 5.5 | North Lanarkshire | 3,400 | 11.4 | |||
| East Ayrshire | 4,325 | 5.5 | Falkirk | 1,395 | 10.7 | |||
| North Lanarkshire | 11,580 | 5.4 | Inverclyde | 755 | 10.2 | |||
| Inverclyde | 2,640 | 5.1 | Renfrewshire | 1,480 | 9.7 | |||
| Renfrewshire | 5,435 | 4.9 | South Lanarkshire | 2,605 | 9.7 | |||
| Falkirk | 4,610 | 4.6 | Midlothian | 675 | 9.6 | |||
| Fife | 10,665 | 4.5 | Dumfries & Galloway | 1,015 | 9.5 | |||
| South Lanarkshire | 8,810 | 4.3 | South Ayrshire | 870 | 9.5 | |||
| Scotland | 141,485 | 4.1 | Glasgow City | 6,440 | 9.2 | |||
| South Ayrshire | 2,865 | 4.1 | West Lothian | 1,375 | 9.2 | |||
| Midlothian | 2,045 | 3.9 | Fife | 3,120 | 8.7 | |||
| West Lothian | 4,470 | 3.9 | Scottish Borders | 685 | 8.5 | |||
| UK | 1,516,005 | 3.8 | Angus | 685 | 8.4 | |||
| Dumfries & Galloway | 3,175 | 3.5 | Dundee City | 1,555 | 8.4 | |||
| Angus | 2,300 | 3.4 | Scotland | 40,020 | 8.1 | |||
| East Lothian | 2,030 | 3.3 | East Lothian | 620 | 7.8 | |||
| Edinburgh City | 11,050 | 3.3 | UK | 428,985 | 7.3 | |||
| Stirling | 1,890 | 3.3 | Moray | 525 | 7.3 | |||
| Argyll & Bute | 1,810 | 3.2 | Argyll & Bute | 485 | 6.9 | |||
| Eilean Siar | 490 | 3.0 | Highland | 1,085 | 6.9 | |||
| Scottish Borders | 2,115 | 3.0 | 17. | Eilean Siar | 100 | 6.0 | ||
| 18. | Highland | 4,070 | 2.9 | East Dunbartonshire | 535 | 5.9 | ||
| Moray | 1,580 | 2.8 | Stirling | 565 | 5.6 | |||
| East Dunbartonshire | 1,845 | 2.8 | East Renfrewshire | 410 | 5.4 | |||
| East Renfrewshire | 1,395 | 2.5 | Perth & Kinross | 680 | 5.4 | |||
| Aberdeen City | 3,555 | 2.4 | Edinburgh City | 2,810 | 4.9 | |||
| Perth & Kinross | 2,255 | 2.4 | Aberdeenshire | 750 | 4.1 | |||
| Aberdeenshire | 2,455 | 1.6 | Aberdeen City | 950 | 3.8 | |||
| 24. | Orkney Islands | 185 | 1.5 | Shetland Islands | 60 | 3.6 | ||
| Shetland Islands | 215 | 1.5 | Orkney Islands | 45 | 3.4 | |||