Sharp rise in county unemployment rate

Aug 14 2008 by Graham Fraser, Hamilton Advertiser

THE number of people out of work in Lanarkshire has risen by 857 in the three months to July, official data has revealed.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) found that nearly 10,000 people across Lanarkshire claimed jobless benefits last month.

Statistics published yesterday (Wednesday) show that 4130 were on benefits in South Lanarkshire, while 5578 were claiming cash in North Lanarkshire.

The South Lanarkshire figure for July is 4.3 per cent higher than the same period last year.

However, to put the effect of the credit crunch in the county into perspective, the latest figure for those on jobless benefits is 15% lower than the beginning of 2007.

Douglas Miller (53), the chief executive of the Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce, commented: “The figures for people claiming job seekers allowance has been steadily rising for a long time.

“But we need to remember that although we are experiencing a tough time it is nowhere near as bad as during the miners’ strikes, for example.

“Unemployment is still relatively low.

“At the Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce, we have been working with Jobcentre Plus to try and do everything we can to help people get back into work.

“There are employers looking for workers in this area and that is why we have been having meetings, like one in Hamilton recently, to try and help people.”

In April of this year, construction firm Carillion axed 750 jobs at its Tannochside plant.

In the same month, 350 jobs went at haulier Ramage at its Glespin centre.

And in May, Ibstock - one of Britain’s leading brick manufacturers - closed its Lanarkshire operation with the loss of 54 jobs.

The figures released yesterday from the ONS only relate to people who are claiming job seekers allowance.

Significantly, the numbers do not take into account the amount of people who are not in work and on incapacity or other benefits.

“This is a point that both the public and private sector are keen to address,” added Mr Miller.

“We are all keen to get people who have been long-term unemployed back into the workplace.”

The gloomy jobless figures for Lanarkshire are reflected across the UK. The ONS said the number of people out of work rose by 60,000 in the three months to June, taking the official unemployment rate to 5.4%.

In June, the unemployment figure in the UK stood at 1.67 million. The ONS also said the number of people claiming jobless benefits in July rose by 20,100 to 864,700.

This was sixth consecutive rise in the claimant count and the biggest jump since 1992.