Jobcentre Plus - Revised Service Hours

As part of the measures to deliver the services customers need, Jobcentre Plus introduced Revised Service Hours on 1 November 2010.

Large and Medium sized Jobcentres are now open from 08.30 to 09.00 offering an “appointments only” service, then opening from 09.00 for fullservice through to 17.00.

Small Jobcentres continue to open from 09.00-17.00 for full service.

All Jobcentres also have the flexibility to offer appointments to specific customers from 17.00-18.00 subject to local business need.

The Jobcentres that are open in Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders District from 08.30 to 09.00 for “appointments only” are:
• Musselburgh
• Bathgate
• Livingston
• High Riggs/Edinburgh City and Leith
• Wester Hailes currently opens from 8.30am Mon, Tue, Thu Fri and remains unchanged.

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). For the second month, West Lothian’s unemployment rate continues to be lower than the Scottish average; a rate not experienced for two years.

• The number of JSA jobless in West Lothian for November is 4,173. This is a decrease of 72 on the previous month.
• West Lothian's unemployment rate of 3.7% is just under the Scottish (3.8%) rate; although above the Great Britain (3.5%) rate. West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks 11th highest out of all Scottish local authority areas.
• Youth unemployment (18-24 year olds) in West Lothian for November is 1,200. This is a decrease of 115 on the last month.
• There were 807 notified Jobcentre vacancies in November - a net decrease of 833 from October 2010.
• The ratio of jobseekers to jobcentre vacancies stands at 5 jobseekers for every vacancy advertised in West Lothian jobcentres. In comparison, Scotland's ratio is 5.9:1, Great Britain is 3.8:1 with East Ayrshire having the highest ratio of 19.3:1 (19 jobseekers for every vacancy) of claimants to vacancies of Scottish local authorities.