Lowest rate on record of joblessness across Scotland

By Reporter

December 12 2018, 5:55 am

Benefit claimants in Glasgow may have to travel further for employment services under UK government plans to close half the city's 16 job centres. The Scottish National Party described the proposal as "morally outrageous". It said those from the poorest areas would face higher travel and phone costs, making it harder to seek work. The Department for Work and Pensions said the closures would save public money and reflected an increase in use of online and telephone services. Under the plans, there would be no job losses among Jobcentre Plus staff, while claimants would not have to travel further than four miles or 40 minutes. Denise Horsfall, DWP work services director for Scotland, said it was now easier for claimants to access Jobcentre services "whether that be in person, online or over phone". "By bringing together a number of neighbouring jobcentres we're continuing to modernise our operations while ensuring that our premises provide best value to the taxpayer," she said. The DWP said there would be a pub

Scotland’s unemployment rate has fallen to a record low, with figures showing 3.7% of the population do not have a job.

The figure fell by 13,000 over the three months covering August to October – a drop of 11.2% – to stand at 100,000.

Joblessness fell among both males and females, with the number of men out of work down by 8,000 over the period to 58,000, while the number of women without a job decreased 5,000 to 42,000.

In Inverness, the number of people claiming benefits fell by 55, while in the Highlands, unemployment was up by 13%, with 440 more people claiming.

Unemployment was also up year-on-year in Moray by 30% with 1,225 people listed as claimants.

In Aberdeen, the number of people claiming benefits was down by 12% year-on-year to 2,805, while in Aberdeenshire, unemployment appeared to be up 9%, with 2,155 people listed as claiming benefits.

Scotland’s rate of unemployment was lower than the 4.1% UK figure.

Scotland’s business minister Jamie Hepburn said the figures showed that “the Scottish economy and jobs market remain strong despite the continued challenges of Brexit”.

He said: “Scotland’s unemployment rate fell again, down to 3.7%, which is lower than the UK rate of 4.1% – where unemployment has remained unchanged over the quarter. This is our lowest unemployment rate on record.”

With the figures published the day before the Scottish budget, Mr Hepburn said this would “set out how we help protect Scotland as far as we can from the damaging uncertainty of Brexit and how we will deliver on our vision of a healthier, wealthier and fairer country”.

Employment minister Alok Sharma said: “Today’s statistics show the enduring strength of our jobs market, with wages outpacing inflation for the ninth month in a row and employment at a record high.

“This is benefiting people across the country, with almost 400,000 more people in work… Putting more money in the pockets of working families, and showing the UK remains a great place to invest and do business.”