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 June is 4,844. This is a decrease of 109 on the previous month.
• West Lothian's unemployment rate of 4.5% is higher than both the Scottish (4.1%) and Great Britain (3.8%) rates. West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks joint 9th highest with South Lanarkshire.
• Youth unemployment (18-24 year olds) in West Lothian for June is 1,515. This is a decrease of 30 on the last month.
• There were 699 notified Jobcentre vacancies in June - a net decrease of 12 from May 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 6.3:1, Great Britain is 4.2:1 with West Dunbartonshire having the highest ratio of 16:1 (16 jobseekers for every vacancy) of claimants to vacancies of Scottish local authorities.