Douglas Alexander MP

Labour MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South

New Report Shows Eight People Chasing Every Vacancy in Renfrewshire

New Report Shows Eight People Chasing Every Vacancy in Renfrewshire

Alexander condemns Government failure to get people into work

A report published this week by the IPPR think tank reveals damning figures on levels of unemployment in areas across the country. This study, published ahead of Labour markets statistics released tomorrow (Wednesday 18th January) shows that in Renfrewshire there are 8 people for every 1 vacancy.

 Commenting on the report local MP Douglas Alexander said:

 “These latest figures are deeply worrying and show the failure of both the Tory-led Government in Westminster and the SNP Government in Edinburgh to provide job opportunities for people across Renfrewshire.

“I know there are many local unemployed people who desperately want to work, they want to provide for their families and contribute to their communities but the jobs are simply not available.

“The public sector cuts being made by the Tory-led Government in Westminster means that we are losing jobs faster than we are creating them. In the last quarter of 2011 for every 13 jobs lost in the public sector, just one was created in the private sector. Their economic policies are failing and we desperately needs a plan that works.

“Unfortunately the SNP Government' failure to bring enough investment and jobs to Scotland is letting down a generation of young Scots who want to work but are denied the opportunity. Before Christmas the office of National Statistics reported that in Paisley and Renfrewshire South the number of 18-24 year olds unemployed for over six months had risen by 29.4% since the start of the year. These young people are paying the price for the failure of the Tory work programme and the SNP’s failure to generate jobs.

“We should be doing everything possible to get people back into work. Labour have been clear that we would create employment opportunities by bringing forward long-term investment projects like building schools, improving road and transport infrastructure and  introduce a one year national insurance tax break for every small firm which takes on extra workers. These measure would make a start in tackling the rising unemployment about which both the Tories and the SNP seem so complacent.

“We need action now to create local jobs. Local people, willing to work deserve better.”

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Notes

 
IPPR Report Data for Renfrewshire sourced from IPPR North
report coverage http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2012/01/16/up-to-20-people-chasing-every-job-in-scotland-and-north-of-england-115875-23701304/
 
vacancies - summary analysis -  claimant count with rates and proportions   
   
local authority:       total vacancies   total claimants    unemployed     claimants to every vacancy
Renfrewshire          674          5,367            4.8                8.0
        
Interpretation of these data need to take account of changes in recent years to Jobcentre Plus procedures for taking and handling vacancies. These figures are not fully comparable over time and may not indicate developments in the labour market. A more detailed explanation is available on the nomis web site. Rates for local authorities from 2011 onwards are calculated using the mid-2010 resident population aged 16-64.   
 
Wednesday 14 December 2011 - Labour Market Statistics from the ONS
full report available here http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html?definition=tcm:77-21589
 
Claimant count, aged 18-24, claiming for over 6 months 
Not seasonally adjusted, rounded to nearest 5  

Jan 2011 Nov 2011  change Jan'11-Nov'11 % change Jan'11-Nov'11
United Kingdom -                 73,100   141,200     68,100           93.2%
Scotland                                7,730    11,310       3,575           46.2%
Paisley and Renfrewshire South  170         220           50           29.4%