STUC on Labour Market Statistics

November 16th 2011

STUC on Labour Market Statistics

November 16th 2011

job centre

Commenting on today’s labour market statistics, Grahame Smith Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary said:

“The further rise in unemployment and significant fall in employment in Scotland confirmed by today’s figures are as worrying as they are unsurprising. The forecasts published by Fraser of Allander last week look increasingly plausible and should serve as a stark warning to politicians at all levels who must now redouble efforts to create jobs and get people back to work.

“It is an insult to the intelligence of the Scottish people for Coalition Ministers to blame rising unemployment on the Eurozone crisis. It was their irresponsible and ideologically motivated decision to strip demand from a fragile economy that hugely exacerbated labour market weakness.

“Since the banking crisis was at its height over three years ago, the STUC has consistently warned that the mistakes of past recessions are in danger of being replayed. That this now looks more an inevitability than a possibility is a shocking indictment of the Coalition Government and a tragedy for the unemployed and communities across Scotland”.

ENDS

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