Latest unemployment and Jobcentre vacancy figures released

The latest unemployment and Jobcentre vacancy figures are out today for West Lothian (Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) based figures).

• The number of JSA jobless in West Lothian for March is 5,186. This is a decrease of 125 on the previous month.
• West Lothian's unemployment rate of 4.8% is higher than both the Scottish (4.5%) and Great Britain (4.2%) rates. West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks 9th highest.
• Youth unemployment (18-24 year olds) in West Lothian for January is 1,645. This is an increase of 35 on the last month.
• There were 793 notified Jobcentre vacancies in March - a net increase of 70 from February 2010.
• The ratio of jobseekers to jobcentre vacancies stands at 7 jobseekers for every vacancy advertised in West Lothian jobcentres. In comparison, Scotland's ratio is 6.7:1, Great Britain is 5.2:1 with North Ayrshire having the highest ratio of 19.9:1 (20 jobseekers for every vacancy) of claimants to vacancies of Scottish local authorities