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.