Official Statistics Show 187 Unemployed in Broughty Ferry are in Receipt of Job Seeker's Allowance

Yesterday, the July 2013 UK Government statistics for unemployment were released. 

Based on the numbers in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance the figures for The Ferry are as follows:

Broughty Ferry 67    2.2 per cent

Balgillo              43    1.0 per cent

Barnhill             48     1.6 per cent

West Ferry        29     1.0 per cent

A total of 187 people in The Ferry ward were claiming Job Seekers Allowance out of work benefit in the latest month (July) , according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

When the September count is released we should unfortunately expect to see a rise as unemployed graduates and school leavers are eligible to claim Job Seeker's Allowance.

The real number of unemployed people is likely to be higher than this as the more  accurate model-based figures from the ONS put the latest available unemployment rate for Dundee as a whole at just over 10 per cent (for the period April 2012- March 2013) which is in excess of the percentage measured by claimants of Job Seekers' Allowance. .

Unemployment inflicts misery on families and households as it usually leads to a drastic reduction in household income and thereby narrows the social contacts that are necessary to maintain a decent family life.

Each person who is unemployed is 100 per cent unemployed and the older that he or she is, the less likely they are to find further employment, which merely adds to the demoralization that unemployment produces.

The unused skills and abilities of the unemployed also represent a waste of potential economic activity that could benefit both the national and the local economy. 

Unemployment in The Ferry - October 2012 Update

In October 2012, there were 210 unemployed men and women in Broughty Ferry according to statistics released from the Office of National Statistics.

These figures are based on the claimant count; the number of people claiming Job Seekers' Allowance. These figures therefore exclude those individuals who are unemployed and seeking work but do not qualify for Job Seekers' Allowance. The official figures also exclude those individuals that are underemployed currently seeking more hours of paid work.

Unemployment in Broughty Ferry broken down into individual areas:
Broughty Ferry central  63
Balgillo                       73
Barnhill                       43
West Ferry                  31
                                         +

Total The Ferry  210

These figures are a stark reminder that unemployment hits areas such as The Ferry with the same force for the individuals affected and their families as it does elsewhere. As one Labour politician commented in the 1960's, 'for the unemployed person, unemployment is 100%'.

The unemployment figures for The Ferry do not sit in isolation. Alongside them are the figures for Dundee that show that the unemployment rate in the city continues to be higher than it is in Glasgow.

These high rates of unemployment result from the policies of a complacent UK Government. They urgently need to adopt Labour’s 5 point plan for jobs which includes a tax on bankers’ bonuses. Also responsible is an out of touch Scottish Government now permanently focused on its referendum for a separate Scotland that needs to re-order its priorities.

Unemployment Soars Throughout Dundee Including Broughty Ferry

Figures released this week by the Office for National Statistics show an alarming rise in unemployment across Dundee as measured by the number and percentage of claimants of Job Seekers' Allowance area by area.

In Lochee West the percentage rate is 11.5%, in Stobswell 11.2% and Douglas 9.3%.

The table on the left shows that number of unemployed people and percentage rates of unemployment in The Ferry are proportionately lower than neighbouring areas in the City I have referred to. Nevertheless, it is a shock to see 254 of our fellow citizens in Broughty Ferry are unemployed and claimed Job Seekers' Allowance.

Unfortunately these figures understate the level of unemployment  and the jobs gap by not counting all those who are seeking work but are not entitled to claim Job Seekers' Allowance or those seeking longer working hours.

Of course for the person who is unemployed in Broughty Ferry, it is little consolation to know that the unemployment rate here is lower than other parts of Dundee because, for each individual unemployed and seeking work, unemployment is 100%.

Clearly we need a comprehensive response by the UK Westminster Government, the Scottish Parliament and the City Council to try to pull the economy out of the current double dip recession. Unfortunately, if we continue with the current deflationary policies, many more of our citizens will be suffering the consequences of lengthening periods of unemployment and the negative effect of this on their living standards.

19% Rise in Unemployment in Broughty Ferry

The number of people unemployed in Broughty Ferry has increased by 46 in the past year, rising from 231 in September 2010 to 277 in September of this year. 


That's an increase of 19.9%.
  
The figures, as shown in the table below, indicate how the figures break down for the individual areas of Broughty Ferry, providing details of the numbers unemployed and the percentage rate of unemployment in each area.
 
The data, comes from the Office of National Statistics.

Area of Broughty Ferry

Sept 2011

% rate

Sept 2010

% rate

Balgillo	80	1.9	77	1.8
Barnhill	66	2.2	50	1.6
Central Broughty Ferry	91	2.9	71	2.3
West Ferry	40	1.4	33	1.1

Broughty Ferry has an unemployment rate that is relatively low. But for the person unemployed, the unemployment rate is 100% and the experience of unemployment may be extremely painful and distressing.



As well as those out of work, there are many others who live with the fear of becoming unemployed, and many others struggling with higher fuel and food costs.
 
This is why I am supporting Labour's  plan for jobs and growth. 
It includes :   

• A £2 billion tax on bank bonuses to fund 100,000 jobs
• Bringing forward long-term investment projects for schools, roads and transport
• Reversing January's damaging VAT rise for a temporary period
• A one year cut in VAT to 5% on home improvements and
• A one year national insurance tax break for every small firm which takes on extra workers. 

This is a clear 5- point plan to help families and to support small businesses.

Worrying Decrease in Job Creation in Scotland as Young People Leave School, College and University

Yesterday the Bank of Scotland Purchase Manager Index monitor was published. It found that the number of new jobs being created in Scotland "stalled" in the past three months and that the number of new business start ups was at its lowest for six months. 

The drop in Scottish job creation is worrying given it comes at a time when normally expect to see an increase in jobs due to seasonal upturns.

The downturn in the number of new jobs is particularly concerning as it comes as our young people are leaving school, college and university and are looking for work. With youth unemployment remaining stubbornly high this downturn will undoubtedly hit young people hardest.

The SNP administration of the City Council must ensure that our school leavers are better qualified and have the job skills to confidently enter the job market. 

The SNP government in Edinburgh must redouble its efforts to stimulate growth and create jobs to ensure the strong levels of growth and employment we all want to see.

1 in 6 Dundee School Leavers Leave to Unemployment

Yesterday the Scottish Government published statistics on the Destinations of School Leavers last summer. These figures show that one in seven young people (nationally) and one in six in Dundee left school and were immediately unemployed.

  

These statistics underline the need for the SNP government to redouble its efforts to tackle youth unemployment which remains stubbornly high.

Locally, I urge the SNP Education Convener in Dundee to ensure that we drive up standards so our young people can compete for the places in higher or further education and job vacancies as these arise. As well as exam results, we must also focus on enhancing employability and readiness for the world of work. We can't afford another lost generation, like the 1980s, when young people are sentenced to long term unemployment.

Dismay at Rising Unemployment in Scotland

Scottish Labour’s Andy Kerr has expressed his dismay that unemployment in Scotland is still rising, while in the rest of the UK it is falling. Scotland’s

unemployment rate now stands at 8.4 per cent, higher than the rate for the UK as a whole.

The latest figures showing that 223,000 people in Scotland are out of work. This is 7,000 up on the previous figures.

Shadow Finance Secretary Andy Kerr said:

“Unemployment is a devastating experience. It is very worrying that unemployment in Scotland is rising, while in the rest of the UK it is falling.

"Today’s figures highlight the fact that Scotland is suffering more in the recession due to the Salmond Slump. We are lagging behind the rest of the UK in employment rates, business start-ups and economic recovery.

"The SNP have cancelled essential infrastructure projects, such as the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, and over £2bn in investment has been lost along with 30,000 construction jobs because of their ideological objection to private finance.

"The unnecessary cuts being imposed by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, coupled with the rise in VAT, are making the situation even worse and putting the recovery at risk."