Release of latest unemployment and Jobcentre vacancy figures

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 September is 4,651. This is a decrease of 96 on the August 2009 figure.
• West Lothian's unemployment rate of 4.4% is higher than both the Scottish (4.0%) and Great Britain (4.2%) rates.
• West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks joint 10th highest with Falkirk, Fife and Renfrewshire out of all Scottish local authority areas.
• There were 874 notified Jobcentre vacancies in September - a net decrease from August 2009 of 176 vacancies.
• The ratio of jobseekers to jobcentre vacancies has remained steady at approximately 5 jobseekers for every vacancy advertised in West Lothian jobcentres. In comparison, Scotland's ratio is 5.2:1, Great Britain is 5.3:1 with North Ayrshire having the highest ratio of 11.8:1 (12 jobseekers for every vacancy) of claimants to vacancies of Scottish local authorities.