Latest unemployment and Jobcentre vacancy figures released

The latest employment and and Jobcentre vacacies have been released. Notably, West Lothian’s unemployment rate continues to remain below the Scottish average.

• The number of JSA jobless in West Lothian for February is 4,782. This is an increase of 213 on the previous month.
  
• West Lothian's unemployment rate of 4.2% is below the Scottish (4.3%) rate, but above the Great Britain (3.8%) rate. West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks 13th highest out of all Scottish local authority areas.


• Youth unemployment (18-24 year olds) in West Lothian for February is 1,455. This a rise of 125 on last month.
  
• There were 857 notified jobcentre vacancies in February - a net decrease of 66 from January 2011.


• The ratio of jobseekers to jobcentre vacancies stands at 6 jobseekers for every vacancy advertised in West Lothian Jobcentres. In comparison, Scotland’s ratio is 6.5:1, Great Britain is 5.0:1 with West Dunbartonshire having the highest ratio of 24.9:1 (25 jobseekers for every vacancy) of claimants to vacancies of Scottish local authorities.