Colin Smyth MSP
South Scotland Colin Smyth MSP has accused the UK and Scottish Government of ‘failing the people of Dumfries and Galloway’ after a new report has shown that unemployment has risen to its highest level since 2015.
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has today (21 March) revealed that the unemployment claimant count was 1,710 across Dumfries and Galloway. This is the highest rate since August 2015.
Since November 2017, an additional 230 people have become unemployment.
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said, “Behind these figures are 1710 people and their families in Dumfries and Galloway faced with the devastating impact of unemployment. The increase is at a time we are told the economy is growing. This shows that both the UK and Scottish Government are failing the people of the region. They are quick to talk about initiatives such as the Borderlands Growth deal and the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency but so far not a penny has been spent by either Government from these initiatives and the economic problems facing the region are getting worse. Unless they get a grip and turn their warm words in to action, unemployment locally, will continue to grow”.
Unemployment benefit claimants within Dumfries and Galloway:
|
Date
|
Dumfries and Galloway
|
Dumfries and Galloway
(%) |
Scotland
(%) |
Great Britain
(%) |
|
Nov 2017
|
1,480
|
1.7
|
2.2
|
1.9
|
|
Dec 2017
|
1,595
|
1.8
|
2.3
|
1.9
|
|
Jan 2018
|
1,645
|
1.8
|
2.4
|
2.0
|
|
Feb 2018
|
1,710
|
1.9
|
2.5
|
2.1
|
For the full report please see:
https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157410/subreports/cc_time_series/report.aspx