- The number of JSA jobless in West Lothian for January is 4,637. This is an increase of 626 on the previous month.
- West Lothian's unemployment rate of 4.1% is equal to the Scotland (4.1%) rate and higher than the Great Britain (3.8%) rate.
- West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks joint 14th highest with Midlothian out of all Scottish local authority areas.
- Youth unemployment (18-24 year olds) in West Lothian for January is 1,310. This is an increase of 210 on the previous month.
- Jobcentre vacancies - The ONS (Office for National Statistics) is currently making changes in the production of Jobcentre vacancies: The final update on Jobcentre vacancies was in November 2012 with the release of the October 2012 counts. After this there will be no further updates from ONS on Jobcentre Vacancy statistics. DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) are consulting users about future options for Jobcentre Plus vacancy statistics.
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Latest unemployment and Jobcentre vacancy figures released
The latest unemployment and Jobcentre vacancy figures for West Lothian (Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) based figures) have ben released. West Lothian’s rate of unemployment has increased by 0.6% to 4.1% in January and includes an increase in the number of unemployed youth. The increase in unemployment is not dissimilar to the same month last year, mainly due to the tailing off of seasonal employment. After analysis of claimant on-flows onto the JSA register, at this stage it is not yet possible to detect an increase of unemployment in West Lothian from recent redundancies at VION Halls in Broxburn.
Additional funding for youth jobs scheme
Hundreds more young people will be supported into jobs following the investment of an additional £6.3 million from the Scottish Government into Community Jobs Scotland. The third sector programme will receive £5.75 million for 2013/14 to support up to 1,000 young people into employment with 10% of the budget ring fenced for those with disabilities and long term illnesses.
A further £550,000 will be invested this year for 100 job opportunities for young people with disabilities and long term illnesses. This is over and above the initial £8.5 million investment for 2012/13. The eligibility age range of vulnerable young people will also be extended up to 24, having previously been 16 to 19.
A further £550,000 will be invested this year for 100 job opportunities for young people with disabilities and long term illnesses. This is over and above the initial £8.5 million investment for 2012/13. The eligibility age range of vulnerable young people will also be extended up to 24, having previously been 16 to 19.
Monday, 4 February 2013
Colleges to help improve job prospects
Colleges will be able to support learners into employment in 2013/14 with a ring-fenced share of a £52 million fund to help people into jobs, following the announcement of the second tranche of the Employability Fund.
The Employability Fund, announced as part of the Scottish Budget, brings together a number of pre-existing training programmes to make life simpler for both providers and prospective trainees and better align training for all with local and regional needs.
The specific college element builds on this year’s New College Learning Programme in recognising colleges’ role in giving unemployed people, including young people, the best possible chance of finding a job.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate, Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance said: “The most recent set of employment figures showed Scotland’s positive progress on youth employment – we have higher youth employment, lower youth unemployment and lower economic inactivity among young people than the rest of the UK.
“However, this is not enough. The Employability Fund forms part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to supporting people towards and into work. The Fund sits alongside a unique guarantee of a place in education or training for all 16 to 19 year olds, at least 25,000 Modern Apprenticeship places in every year of this Parliament, and the upcoming £15 million Employer Recruitment Incentive.
“Colleges are key providers of employability provision. But they are delivering in a period of considerable change and we are responding positively to their call for stability. This is why we have asked the Scottish Funding Council to allocate £18 million to colleges for 2013/14, in addition to the £6 million they will get from SDS. This money forms part of our £500 million plus commitment to colleges previously announced in the draft Scottish budget, reaffirming our support for the work the sector does to help people get jobs.“
This £18 million for colleges is administered by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and will be allocated to regions pro rata to their historical allocations from SFC.
The remaining £34 million of the Employability Fund, which includes a further £6 million for colleges and is administered by Skills Development Scotland, is now open to bids from learning providers, including colleges, on the Public Procurement Scotland portal.
The Employability Fund, announced as part of the Scottish Budget, brings together a number of pre-existing training programmes to make life simpler for both providers and prospective trainees and better align training for all with local and regional needs.
The specific college element builds on this year’s New College Learning Programme in recognising colleges’ role in giving unemployed people, including young people, the best possible chance of finding a job.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate, Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance said: “The most recent set of employment figures showed Scotland’s positive progress on youth employment – we have higher youth employment, lower youth unemployment and lower economic inactivity among young people than the rest of the UK.
“However, this is not enough. The Employability Fund forms part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to supporting people towards and into work. The Fund sits alongside a unique guarantee of a place in education or training for all 16 to 19 year olds, at least 25,000 Modern Apprenticeship places in every year of this Parliament, and the upcoming £15 million Employer Recruitment Incentive.
“Colleges are key providers of employability provision. But they are delivering in a period of considerable change and we are responding positively to their call for stability. This is why we have asked the Scottish Funding Council to allocate £18 million to colleges for 2013/14, in addition to the £6 million they will get from SDS. This money forms part of our £500 million plus commitment to colleges previously announced in the draft Scottish budget, reaffirming our support for the work the sector does to help people get jobs.“
This £18 million for colleges is administered by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and will be allocated to regions pro rata to their historical allocations from SFC.
The remaining £34 million of the Employability Fund, which includes a further £6 million for colleges and is administered by Skills Development Scotland, is now open to bids from learning providers, including colleges, on the Public Procurement Scotland portal.
Industry experts work for young people
Sir Ian Wood and experts with business, further education, schools and trade union backgrounds will join forces with the Scottish Government to improve the readiness of young people for work.
A new Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, led by the former Chair of world leading oil services company, The Wood Group, will look closely at the links between Curriculum for Excellence, Post 16 education and employers.
The Commission’s members, including Sir Willie Haughey, Grahame Smith from the STUC, Michael Davis from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills and Linda McKay from Forth Valley College, have both employed and inspired tens of thousands of young people. They will look at routes into work after school and the success of programmes such as modern apprenticeships before making recommendations to enhance the current reform programmes next year.
A new Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, led by the former Chair of world leading oil services company, The Wood Group, will look closely at the links between Curriculum for Excellence, Post 16 education and employers.
The Commission’s members, including Sir Willie Haughey, Grahame Smith from the STUC, Michael Davis from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills and Linda McKay from Forth Valley College, have both employed and inspired tens of thousands of young people. They will look at routes into work after school and the success of programmes such as modern apprenticeships before making recommendations to enhance the current reform programmes next year.
Latest unemployment and Jobcentre vacancy figures for West Lothian released
The latest unemployment and Jobcentre vacancy figures show West Lothian’s rate of unemployment has decreased by 0.1% to 3.5% in December and includes a drop in the number of unemployed youth.
• The number of JSA jobless in West Lothian for December is 4,011. This is a decrease of 96 on the previous month.
• West Lothian's unemployment rate of 3.5% is lower than both the Scotland (3.9%) rate and the Great Britain (3.7%) rate. West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks 16th highest out of all Scottish local authority areas (see attached excel sheet).
• Youth unemployment (18-24 year olds) in West Lothian for December is 1,100. This is a decrease of 110 on the previous month.
• Jobcentre vacancies - The ONS (Office for National Statistics) is currently making changes in the production of Jobcentre vacancies: The final update on Jobcentre vacancies was in November 2012 with the release of the October 2012 counts. After this there will be no further updates from ONS on Jobcentre Vacancy statistics. DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) are consulting users about future options for Jobcentre Plus vacancy statistics.
• The number of JSA jobless in West Lothian for December is 4,011. This is a decrease of 96 on the previous month.
• West Lothian's unemployment rate of 3.5% is lower than both the Scotland (3.9%) rate and the Great Britain (3.7%) rate. West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks 16th highest out of all Scottish local authority areas (see attached excel sheet).
• Youth unemployment (18-24 year olds) in West Lothian for December is 1,100. This is a decrease of 110 on the previous month.
• Jobcentre vacancies - The ONS (Office for National Statistics) is currently making changes in the production of Jobcentre vacancies: The final update on Jobcentre vacancies was in November 2012 with the release of the October 2012 counts. After this there will be no further updates from ONS on Jobcentre Vacancy statistics. DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) are consulting users about future options for Jobcentre Plus vacancy statistics.
Survey shows job success for most Modern Apprentices
Independent research shows 92% of Modern Apprentices in Scotland who completed their apprenticeship were in work around six months later. The report is based upon the analysis of a telephone survey of 2,000 Modern Apprentices in Scotland, who had left their apprenticeship around six months previously. The responses included some apprentices who had completed their apprenticeship ('completers') and some who had not ('non- completers').
The research was conducted by an independent market research company, IFF Ltd, for Skills Development Scotland (SDS) in the latter part of 2012. A more detailed review of the MA programme will be published later in 2013. This will include the headline messages from the MA Outcomes Survey. It will also include the views of employers, captured through a large-scale, independent survey.
Overall the headline results show:
The research was conducted by an independent market research company, IFF Ltd, for Skills Development Scotland (SDS) in the latter part of 2012. A more detailed review of the MA programme will be published later in 2013. This will include the headline messages from the MA Outcomes Survey. It will also include the views of employers, captured through a large-scale, independent survey.
Overall the headline results show:
- 92% of MAs who completed their apprenticeship were in work around six months later. 70% of these were employed with the same employer, a further 20%er cent with a different employer and 2%were self-employed.
- Those working for a different employer categorised themselves as more likely to have had some form of career progression-a promotion, a pay rise, a job with more responsibility, improved job security or getting more satisfaction from their work.
- Looking at all MA leavers, including non-completers, the vast majority (86%) were still in work six months after completing or leaving their MA.
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