West Lothian has highest fall in unemployment rate

A new economic report has revealed that West Lothian has the highest fall in unemployment figures of any local authority in Scotland.

The report, produced by Mackay Consultants, shows that West Lothian's rate of unemployment fell by 12.4% between January 2010 and January 2011. This is a particularly impressive achievement for the area, as unemployment across Scotland rose over this period by an average of 0.9%.

The report revealed rising levels of unemployment in 21 of Scotland's 32 local authorities over the period and next best fall in unemployment was achieved in Dumfries & Galloway with a fall of 7.6%.

West Lothian's unemployment rate is currently 4.0% (4,569 people). West Lothian’s rate has recently fallen below the Scottish average (4.3%) although it is still slightly above the Great Britain (3.8%) rate.

Percentage Change in Unemployment, January 2010 - January 2011 by local authority:

West Lothian 12.4% decrease
Dumfries and Galloway 7.6% decrease
Na h-Eileanan Siar 5.0% decrease
South Lanarkshire 4.9% decrease
Edinburgh 3.7% decrease
East Renfrewshire 3.4% decrease
East Dunbartonshire 2.8% decrease
North Lanarkshire 2.4% decrease
South Ayrshire 2.4% decrease
North Ayrshire 2.2% decrease
Inverclyde 1.2% decrease
Scotland 0.9% increase
Midlothian 0.9% increase
Fife 1.2% increase
East Lothian 3.1% increase
Scottish Borders 3.1% increase
East Ayrshire 3.7% increase
West Dunbartonshire 3.7% increase
Renfrewshire 3.8% increase
Moray 4.0% increase
Glasgow 4.1% increase
Aberdeen 4.2% increase
Perth and Kinross 4.3% increase
Falkirk 4.9% increase
Angus 5.4% increase
Dundee 5.7% increase
Argyll and Bute 6.0% increase
Stirling 6.4% increase
Highland 6.7% increase
Clackmannanshire 7.7% increase
Aberdeenshire 10.0% increase
Shetland 17.3% increase
Orkney 22.8% increase