Latest unemployment and Jobcentre vacancy figures released

The latest January 2011 unemployment and Jobcentre vacancy figures have been published for West Lothian (Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) based figures). As expected, unemployment has risen slightly with seasonal recruitment tailing off, however, West Lothian continues for a fourth month to have an unemployment rate lower than the Scottish average.

• The number of JSA jobless in West Lothian for January is 4,569 up from 4,257 in December. This is an increase of 312 and was expected given the usual seasonal labour market tendency of firms to release temporary staff in December and January.
• West Lothian's unemployment rate of 4.0% is below the Scottish (4.3%) rate; but above the Great Britain (3.7%) rate. West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks joint 11th highest out of all Scottish local authority areas.
• Youth unemployment (18-24 year olds) in West Lothian for January is 1,330. This is an increase of 105 on the last month.
• There were 606 notified Jobcentre vacancies in January - a net decrease of 317 from December 2010. This is again an expected seasonal trend – there were 632 vacancies in January 2010.
• The ratio of jobseekers to jobcentre vacancies stands at 8 jobseekers for every vacancy advertised in West Lothian jobcentres. In comparison, Scotland's ratio is 10:1, Great Britain is 6.2:1 with Orkney having the highest ratio of 33.9 (34 jobseekers for every vacancy) of claimants to vacancies of Scottish local authorities.