STUC on labour market statistics

December 14th 2011

STUC on labour market statistics

December 14th 2011

job centre

Commenting on today’s ONS statistics which show a huge jump in Scottish unemployment, Grahame Smith, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary said:

“Today’s figures are simply shocking with the rise in Scottish unemployment much higher than anticipated by independent forecasters.

“With long-term unemployment rising and many now facing their second or third Christmas on the dole, it is essential that the coalition revisits its failed economic strategy. Unemployed people do not wish to be patronised by the Chancellor trying to blame the impact of his own domestic blunders on troubles in the Eurozone.

“Instead, they will want to see a new approach; one that makes fiscal consolidation contingent on growth and much more balanced towards fair taxation. They need to see a genuine strategy for jobs and growth; not the series of irrelevant supply side interventions announced in the Autumn Statement which will simply re-embed a failed economic model.

“The Scottish Government must redouble its efforts to ensure it is doing all it can to support growth and jobs and provide effective assistance to those consigned to unemployment by the Coalition’s irresponsibly ideological approach”.

ENDS

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Stephen Boyd 0141 337 8100