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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Big rise in Scottish unemployment | Big rise in Scottish unemployment |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Unemployment in Scotland rose by 13,000 to 138,000 between September and November, official figures have revealed. | Unemployment in Scotland rose by 13,000 to 138,000 between September and November, official figures have revealed. |
| This was 6,000 more than the rise during the same quarter in 2007, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. | This was 6,000 more than the rise during the same quarter in 2007, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. |
| The unemployment rate increased by 0.5 percentage points from the previous quarter to 5.2%. | The unemployment rate increased by 0.5 percentage points from the previous quarter to 5.2%. |
| However, this remained lower than the UK average unemployment rate of 6.1%. | However, this remained lower than the UK average unemployment rate of 6.1%. |
| Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy said the figures showed that the Scottish economy was showing greater resilience than elsewhere in the UK. | Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy said the figures showed that the Scottish economy was showing greater resilience than elsewhere in the UK. |
| We will do everything possible to support the newly unemployed from becoming the long term unemployed Jim MurphySecretary of State for Scotland Scots economy 'clearly weakening'Human cost of economic slowdownShops 'in worst slump for decade' | We will do everything possible to support the newly unemployed from becoming the long term unemployed Jim MurphySecretary of State for Scotland Scots economy 'clearly weakening'Human cost of economic slowdownShops 'in worst slump for decade' |
| But he warned that the country was facing difficult economic times where the "reality of the situation is that people are losing their jobs." | But he warned that the country was facing difficult economic times where the "reality of the situation is that people are losing their jobs." |
| Mr Murphy added: "However, this government is making every effort to support jobs, and to help those people who lose their jobs back into employment. | Mr Murphy added: "However, this government is making every effort to support jobs, and to help those people who lose their jobs back into employment. |
| "Whilst today's figures show further declines in the Scottish labour market, they also show it is demonstrating a greater level of resilience than the UK labour market as a whole, with a lower unemployment rate and higher economic activity and employment rates. | "Whilst today's figures show further declines in the Scottish labour market, they also show it is demonstrating a greater level of resilience than the UK labour market as a whole, with a lower unemployment rate and higher economic activity and employment rates. |
| "I know that many people are worried about losing their jobs. We will do everything possible to support the newly unemployed from becoming the long term unemployed." | "I know that many people are worried about losing their jobs. We will do everything possible to support the newly unemployed from becoming the long term unemployed." |
| Jim Mather, the Scottish Government's enterprise minister, said that despite the global economic conditions, Scotland was maintaining a higher employment rate, a lower unemployment rate and higher economic activity levels than the UK average. | Jim Mather, the Scottish Government's enterprise minister, said that despite the global economic conditions, Scotland was maintaining a higher employment rate, a lower unemployment rate and higher economic activity levels than the UK average. |
| "We are, however, seeing unemployment rise and survey evidence predicts a difficult year ahead for business," he added. | "We are, however, seeing unemployment rise and survey evidence predicts a difficult year ahead for business," he added. |
| "The major issue we hear from the business community is lack of credit available to good companies. We have welcomed announcements from the UK Government to get credit flowing - and it is absolutely essential that these schemes get the banks lending again, with immediate effect, to protect Scottish jobs. | "The major issue we hear from the business community is lack of credit available to good companies. We have welcomed announcements from the UK Government to get credit flowing - and it is absolutely essential that these schemes get the banks lending again, with immediate effect, to protect Scottish jobs. |
| "This is an issue that we will continue to press with the major banks in Scotland and the UK Government." | "This is an issue that we will continue to press with the major banks in Scotland and the UK Government." |
| UK average | UK average |
| The ONS figures are based on the internationally-comparable International Labour Organisation (ILO) measure of unemployment. | The ONS figures are based on the internationally-comparable International Labour Organisation (ILO) measure of unemployment. |
| The ILO defines unemployed people as those who are without a job, want a job, have actively sought work in the last four weeks and are available to start work in the next two weeks, or are out of work, have found a job and are waiting to start in the next two months. | The ILO defines unemployed people as those who are without a job, want a job, have actively sought work in the last four weeks and are available to start work in the next two weeks, or are out of work, have found a job and are waiting to start in the next two months. |
| The data also showed that the claimant count measure - those people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance - increased by 5,400 in December, and by 26,100 over the year to a total of 97,600. The claimant count rate was at 3.5%. | The data also showed that the claimant count measure - those people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance - increased by 5,400 in December, and by 26,100 over the year to a total of 97,600. The claimant count rate was at 3.5%. |
| Total employment in Scotland fell by 4,000 over the previous quarter and by 8,000 over the year to stand at 2,534,000. | Total employment in Scotland fell by 4,000 over the previous quarter and by 8,000 over the year to stand at 2,534,000. |
| The Scottish employment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points over the quarter to 75.6%, but continued to be above that of the UK and almost all countries within the EU. | The Scottish employment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points over the quarter to 75.6%, but continued to be above that of the UK and almost all countries within the EU. |
| Economic activity increased by 10,000 from the previous quarter to a level of 2,672,000, a fall of 2,000 over the year, but also remains above the UK average. | Economic activity increased by 10,000 from the previous quarter to a level of 2,672,000, a fall of 2,000 over the year, but also remains above the UK average. |
| We do believe more ought to be done to aid firms' cash flow Iain FergusonCBI Scotland | |
| CBI Scotland's policy executive Iain Ferguson said its members "recognise and appreciate the positive interventions that the devolved government and Scottish Enterprise have made so far." | CBI Scotland's policy executive Iain Ferguson said its members "recognise and appreciate the positive interventions that the devolved government and Scottish Enterprise have made so far." |
| But he added: "We do believe more ought to be done to aid firms' cash flow, by ensuring all public authorities settle supplier invoices within 10 days, and by reducing firms' costs by cutting business rates." | But he added: "We do believe more ought to be done to aid firms' cash flow, by ensuring all public authorities settle supplier invoices within 10 days, and by reducing firms' costs by cutting business rates." |
| Meanwhile, separate figures from the Scottish Government showed the number of people going bankrupt had soared since the introduction of a cheaper method of going bust. | |
| A total of 5,807 individual insolvencies were recorded in the final three months of 2008, a slight fall on the previous quarter but a 75% rise on the same quarter in 2007. | |
| Within this total, the increase in bankruptcies was even more dramatic, rising by 154% to 3,970 from the 1,444 recorded in the same quarter in 2007. | |
| Officials said the increase was caused by the introduction last year of the "low income, low asset" (LILA) procedure to provide a cheap way of going bankrupt for those on low incomes who cannot afford the conventional method. | |
| The new method will be reviewed after it has been running for a year. | |
| The final three months of 2008 also saw eight company's go into receivership, 166 compulsory liquidations, and 54 creditors voluntary liquidations. |