Unemployment in Scotland has risen for the second consecutive month, with Dundee ranking as one of the country’s worst employment blackspots.
The number of Scots without jobs, including those who do not qualify for benefits, rose by 7,000 to 220,000 over the three months from June to August. Nearly one in 12 of the population (8.2%) is now out of work.
Across the UK unemployment fell by 50,000 over the same period and the jobless total now stands at 2.3 million.
The figures released by the Office for National Statistics also reveal Dundee has the highest proportion of long-term unemployed residents in Scotland.
There were 1,965 people who had been receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance for more than 12 months in the city at the end of August 2.1% of the city’s entire working age population.
By comparison, only 1.3% of Fife’s population has been on JSA for more than a year, 0.7% in Angus and 0.3% in Perth and Kinross.
Dundee also has the third highest overall rate of adults claiming the allowance. There were 5,523 people claiming JSA at the end of August, 5.8% of the city’s adult population.
Only West Dunbartonshire (6.1%) and North Ayrshire (6.5%) had a higher proportion of their populations claiming the benefit.
In Fife, there were 10,036 people claiming the benefit 4.3% of the working age population.
In Angus, 3% of adults were receiving JSA and 2.1% in Perth and Kinross.
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said: ”Any increase in Scottish people losing their jobs is disappointing and a cause for concern across both Scotland’s governments.
”There are some positive signs, such as the third consecutive monthly fall in the number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance,” he added.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: ”In the week of the Edinburgh Agreement we could not have a clearer example of why Scotland needs the full powers of independence. Scotland is suffering under the UK Government’s do-nothing economic policy.”
Dundee-based Labour list MSP Jenny Marra said: ”It is unacceptable for a city like ours with a skilled and educated workforce to have the longest dole queues in Scotland.
”Earlier this year, Labour launched a plan for jobs that would see our population’s skills in manufacturing used to build local schools and infrastructure projects, and in renewables jobs that have repeatedly been promised for Dundee by the SNP. So far nothing has been delivered, and the consequences are showing.”
Photo by Danny Lawson/PA Wire