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 April is 5,041. This is a decrease of 145 on the previous month.
• West Lothian's unemployment rate of 4.7% is higher than both the Scottish (4.3%) and Great Britain (4.1%) rates. West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks 11th highest.
• Youth unemployment (18-24 year olds) in West Lothian for January is 1,565. This is an decrease of 80 on the last month.
• There were 718 notified Jobcentre vacancies in April - a net decrease of 75 from March 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 6.1:1, Great Britain is 5.1:1 with North Ayrshire having the highest ratio of 18.6:1 (19 jobseekers for every vacancy) of claimants to vacancies of Scottish local authorities.