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 March is 4,698. This is a decrease of 84 on the previous month.


• West Lothian's unemployment rate of 4.1% is below the Scottish (4.3%) rate, but above the Great Britain (3.8%) rate. West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks joint 12th highest out of all Scottish local authority areas.


• Youth unemployment (18-24 year olds) in West Lothian for March is 1,430. This a drop of 25 on last month.


• There were 1,026 notified jobcentre vacancies in March - a net decrease of 169 from February 2011.


• 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 6.6:1, Great Britain is 5.0:1 with West Dunbartonshire having the highest ratio of 25.2:1 (25 jobseekers for every vacancy) of claimants to vacancies of Scottish local authorities.