16 Jan 2002
Claimant count down by 600 over the month to December
Claimant count unemployment in Scotland has fallen by 600 over the month to December to 104,700 and is 6,400 lower over the year. Seasonally adjusted International Labour Organisation (ILO) unemployment is unchanged over the quarter to September to November 2001 at 170,000 according to the latest labour market statistics for Scotland published today.
Commenting on the figures, Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell said:
"The recent monthly fall in claimant count unemployment over the month to December of 600 is to be welcomed in spite of difficult circumstances. ILO unemployment also remained unchanged.
"While it would be wrong to read too much into one month’s figures, they do show that the fundamentals of our economy are sound and that the events of 11 September have not irreparably damaged the economy. For competitive Scottish businesses the future is bright.
"It is naive to think that Scotland and the UK can be immune from the global slowdown which was already affecting markets prior to the tragic events of 11thSeptember. However it is testimony to the strength of the UK economy that Scotland is faring much better than many of our continental partners.
"Average ILO unemployment in the EU is currently running at 7.8 per cent, 1.1 per cent higher than in Scotland, and is markedly higher in Germany (8.0 per cent), France (9.2 per cent), Italy (9.3 per cent) and Spain (13.0 per cent).
"The Scottish labour market remains basically sound with employment at historic highs and the claimant count rate around the lowest for a generation. There are almost 100,000 more Scots in work than in Spring 1997, and ILO unemployment has fallen by 45,000 over the equivalent period.
"The Government is determined to establish the essential foundations for achieving high and stable levels of growth and employment in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
"We have achieved the longest period of sustained low inflation since the 1960s. Interest rates are at historically low levels and less than half the levels seen in the late 1980s and early 1990s, helping to reduce the cost of investment needed to secure our goal of sustainable long-term economic growth.
"Despite the atrocities of 11 September there are encouraging signs in the aviation sector with Scotland’s main airports all showing continuing growth in December 2001 compared with the same period in 2000. Glasgow is up 5.8 per cent, Edinburgh up 8.8 per cent, Aberdeen up 5.9 per cent and Prestwick up 18.6 per cent.
"The New Deal continues to deliver with the latest figures showing that over 66,000 people have found work through this wide ranging initiative which has helped eradicate the scourge of mass youth unemployment.
"We have also seen the smooth introduction of the Euro and its success can only benefit Scotland. Over 350,000 Scottish jobs depend on our trade within the EU and latest figures show that 63 per cent of our manufactured exports go to the EU.
"The fundamentals of the UK and Scottish economy remain strong and the Government will continue to work with business and industry to create the economic conditions that will allow companies to prosper and grow."
Latest Data
Claimant Count Unemployment
Claimant count unemployment in Scotland based on the seasonally adjusted number of people claiming benefit decreased by 600 in December to 104,700 and fell by 6,400 over the year. The claimant count unemployment rate in December was 4.2 per cent.
Employment
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) indicates that the number of people in employment to September to November 2001 was 2,382,000 down 2000 compared with the previous three months and down by 13,000 on the same period a year ago.
The employment rate amongst those of working age fell by 0.1 per cent on the previous three months, to 73.4 per cent and was down by 0.6 per cent on the same period a year earlier.
International Labour Organisation (ILO) Unemployment
Seasonally adjusted ILO unemployment in Scotland was unchanged over the quarter to September to November 2001at 170,000. The ILO unemployment rate also remained unchanged at 6.7 per cent. Compared with the equivalent period one year earlier, ILO unemployment increased by 7000 with the rate also increasing by 0.3 per cent.
NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS
1. The count of those claiming unemployment-related benefits continues to provide a full and timely range of data at sub-Scotland level for local authorities, TTWAs and parliamentary constituencies. The claimant count is also the main source of information on unemployment by age and duration. Data on claimant count unemployment in the New Deal age and duration groups are available from 1985.
2. The internationally comparable International Labour Organisation (ILO) measure of unemployment is the headline figure published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for UK regions/countries.
3. The ILO measure of unemployment, which is derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), is published 12 times a year for an average of the three preceding consecutive months. ONS recommend that seasonally adjusted data should be compared with the previous non-overlapping three month period: i.e. June-August data should be compared with March-May data. Quarter to quarter changes at country/regional level are particularly subject to sampling variability and should be interpreted in the context of changes over several quarters.
4. The source for the EU unemployment figures is Eurostat. All non-UK figures relate to November 2001, apart from Italy which relates to October 2001.
5. Source of destination of Scottish Exports Figures is SCDI, December 2001.