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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Scottish unemployment up 41,000 | Scottish unemployment up 41,000 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The number of people unemployed in Scotland rose by 41,000 in the latest quarter to 176,000. | The number of people unemployed in Scotland rose by 41,000 in the latest quarter to 176,000. |
| The government's figures for the three months to April showed the Scottish jobless rate stands at 6.6%, below the UK average of 7.2%. | The government's figures for the three months to April showed the Scottish jobless rate stands at 6.6%, below the UK average of 7.2%. |
| Other figures showed the number of people out of work and claiming benefit went up by 3,500 in May to 125,300. | Other figures showed the number of people out of work and claiming benefit went up by 3,500 in May to 125,300. |
| Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy described the figures as a blow which reflected the global economic problems. | Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy described the figures as a blow which reflected the global economic problems. |
| He said: "The UK Government will do everything possible to support jobs in the economy and to help people who have lost their jobs get back into work." | He said: "The UK Government will do everything possible to support jobs in the economy and to help people who have lost their jobs get back into work." |
| Manufacturing hit | |
| For the Scottish Government, the Enterprise Minister, Jim Mather, said the latest statistics showed the importance of action to keep people in work or help workers regain employment. | |
| However, he said there were some signs for optimism: "The 0.2% decline in economic inactivity in Scotland compared to a 0.2% increase UK-wide is at least a welcome indicator as it shows that people are remaining within the labour market system." | |
| The figures showed that manufacturing industries have been particularly hard hit with 12,000 jobs lost in this sector in year to the end of March. | |
| The area of business services, transport and finance also showed a big drop in the number of workers with 35,000 losing their jobs in the same period. | |
| At the same time, construction jobs have actually increased by 2,000 or 1.4%. | |
| Job competition | Job competition |
| The latest jobless figures come as research reveals that almost 300 people are chasing each job in some fields of employment. | The latest jobless figures come as research reveals that almost 300 people are chasing each job in some fields of employment. |
| Scotland also has more people competing for each vacancy than the national average - with nine applying for each job advertised at Jobcentre Plus. | Scotland also has more people competing for each vacancy than the national average - with nine applying for each job advertised at Jobcentre Plus. |
| The figures released by the Conservatives showed that lower-skilled occupations have as many as 22 people chasing every vacancy, compared with eight in the managerial and professional ranks. | The figures released by the Conservatives showed that lower-skilled occupations have as many as 22 people chasing every vacancy, compared with eight in the managerial and professional ranks. |
| Across the UK, seven people on average applied for each job that was available in April. | Across the UK, seven people on average applied for each job that was available in April. |
| In the same month, 146 people applied for each labourer job in the construction industry in Scotland, according to the statistics. | In the same month, 146 people applied for each labourer job in the construction industry in Scotland, according to the statistics. |