STUC on Labour Market statistics

April 18th 2012

STUC on Labour Market statistics

April 18th 2012

Commenting on the latest official labour market statistics for Scotland published today which show a headline fall of 12,000 in unemployment, Grahame Smith, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary said:

“This significant fall in headline unemployment is as welcome as it is surprising. However, as always with labour market statistics, the overall picture is much more complex.

“Rapidly rising unemployment amongst women in Scotland continues to be a major concern. The overall fall in unemployment in the three months to February is accounted for by a steep fall in male unemployment; with female unemployment registering yet another significant rise. Male unemployment fell by 10.5% over the year while female unemployment increased by 19%.

“Long term youth claimant count unemployment also continues to rise and if Scotland is following the UK trend, we can also anticipate that most of the new jobs being created are part-time or self-employment. The increase in involuntary part-time employment continues to be the great hidden story of the labour market post-recession”.

ENDS

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