- The number of JSA jobless in West Lothian for April is 4,530. This is an increase of 52 on the March 2009 figure, and is the highest total for West Lothian since September 1996.
- West Lothian's unemployment rate of 4.2% is higher than both the Scottish (3.9%) and Great Britain (4.1%) rates, and excluding last month's similar rate, is higher than at any time since February 1997.
- West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks joint 12th highest (with South Lanarkshire) out of all Scottish local authority areas.
- There were 786 notified Jobcentre vacancies in April - a net decrease from March 2009 of 15 vacancies.
- Similar to last month, there are approximately 6 jobseekers for every vacancy advertised in West Lothian jobcentres. In comparison, Scotland's ratio is 5.5:1, Great Britain is 6.4:1 with West Dunbartonshire having the highest ratio of 14.0:1 (14 jobseekers to every vacancy) of claimants to vacancies of Scottish local authorities.
JSA based unemployment figures do not provide the full picture. However, the headline JSA figure does help to indicate the latest trend or change at a national or local level and whether the economic down turn is beginning to bite. The Government's favoured method of measuring unemployment - the ILO method does not readily translate into up-to-date local area estimates.
The Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) is payable to people under pensionable age who are available for, and actively seeking, work.
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