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 May is 4,953. This is a decrease of 88 on the previous month.


• West Lothian's unemployment rate of 4.6% is higher than both the Scottish (4.2%) and Great Britain (3.9%) rates. West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks joint 10th highest with South Lanarkshire.


• Youth unemployment (18-24 year olds) in West Lothian for May is 1,545. This is a decrease of 20 on the last month.


• There were 711 notified Jobcentre vacancies in May - a net decrease of 7 from April 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 5.0:1, Great Britain is 3.8:1 with North Ayrshire having the highest ratio of 12.2:1 (12 jobseekers for every vacancy) of claimants to vacancies of Scottish local authorities.