Jobless in North Lanarkshire at 15-year high

Dec 8 2011 by Leona Greenan, Hamilton Advertiser

UNEMPLOYMENT figures in North Lanarkshire reached their highest point in 15 years this summer.

A report by the local authority shows August 2011 was the worst month on record since 1996 for people across the region being out of work – with 12,488 people signing on.

The figure was an increase of 1000 in the preceding three months.

Youth unemployment across the county was also a cause for concern, with 4050 people aged 18 to 24 out of work.

That represents 13.7 per cent of that age group claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) – well above the Scottish average of 9.3 per cent, with only Glasgow showing a higher number of 18 to 24-year-olds claiming JSA.

The statistics were revealed to councillors on the policy and resources committee as part of their regular update on the local economy.

The report was prepared by North Lanarkshire Council’s head of regeneration Eric Hislop, and stated: “The economic recession has had a significant impact on the North Lanarkshire labour market.

“The impact has been seen most clearly in the increasing number of people claiming unemployment benefit (JSA).

“There is clearly an upward trend in JSA which started in winter 2010.

“While there may be an element of seasonality to explain the last couple of monthly increases, with individuals signing on after they leave school or college in the summer, the current trend is still largely reflective of a weak local and national economy.”

The council report makes especially gloomy reading for young men in the area and it states research suggests young people can “suffer serious psychological issues” if they experience long periods out of work at an early age.

The report adds: “While long-term unemployment is perhaps an inevitable consequence of recession and a sustained rise in unemployment, the sheer scale of the trend in North Lanarkshire is a major issue for the area.

“What is notable in these charts is that, after the falls in long-term unemployment in the first half of 2010, this year has seen a sharp increase.

“The charts also show that the recession has had a disproportionate effect on young men.”

The report concludes: “The impact on young people remains critical and the spike in long-term youth unemployment can have major implications for the area.”