Latest unemployment and Jobcentre figures released

The latest unemployment (Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) based) and Jobcentre vacancy figures have been released for West Lothian.

• The number of JSA jobless in West Lothian for August is 4,747. This is an increase of 169 on the July 2009 figure and is the highest total for West Lothian since August 1996.
• West Lothian's unemployment rate of 4.4% is higher than both the Scottish (4.2%) and Great Britain (4.2%) rates and is higher than at any time since August 1996.
• West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks 13th highest out of all Scottish local authority areas.
• On a positive note, there were 1,050 notified Jobcentre vacancies in August - a net increase from July 2009 of 274 vacancies.
• Also, there has been a slight decrease in the ratio of jobseekers to jobcentre vacancies this month, with approximately 5 jobseekers for every vacancy advertised in West Lothian jobcentres. In comparison, Scotland's ratio is 5.0:1, Great Britain is 4.5:1 with North Ayrshire having the highest ratio of 12.4:1 (12 jobseekers for every vacancy) of claimants to vacancies of Scottish local authorities.
  

£1000 cash back offered to recruiting employers

Jobcentre Plus is offering £1000 to employers for every eligible person that they recruit, who has been claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance for six months or more.

Eligible candidates looking for work will want employers to notice their potential and may refer to the £1000 in their letter of application, as part of their CV, on application forms, or during the recruitment process.

For employers, the process for making a claim is quick and easy on the Jobcentre Plus website.

In-work training, worth up to £1,500, may also be available through Jobcentre Plus partners to help employers get the most from their new recruits and their current employees.

Invitation to Access2employment stakeholder event

Access2employment would like to invite you along to their annual Stakeholder Event. It will be held on Tuesday 22 September at 10am in The Enterprise Centre, Livingston

This is an opportunity for you to hear about what they do, where they do it, and who they do it to!

They are also very keen to hear your views and opinions on their service together with any suggestions you might have which would go toward improving the overall customer experience.

As a little incentive, there will be tea, coffee and home baking available from 9.30am.

Please confirm your attendance by 15 September to:

Sandra Darling
Coordinator - access2employment
West Lothian Council
Cultural, Communities & Economic Development Services
The Enterprise Centre
Almondvale Boulevard
Livingston
EH54 6QP
Tel: 01506 777944
Mobile: 07899 063543
E-mail: sandra.darling@westlothian.gov.uk