Smith: Unemployment fall welcome but we must do more to create new jobs

The latest figures show that, in the three months to May, unemployment in Scotland fell by 11,000 to 205,000.

The unemployment rate in Scotland was 7.6%, below the UK average of 7.7%.

Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid-Scotland & Fife, said:

"A fall in unemployment will rightly be welcomed but the rate is still far too high and politicians at all levels need to do all we can to help create new jobs.

"That's why at the last budget Scottish Conservatives secured help for businesses to take on new staff and we also delivered a £16m boost for housing – these two measures alone will create over 10,000 jobs and help grow our economy.

"Last month's Global Entrepreneurship Monitor showed that fewer people are likely to start new businesses in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK. We must focus on helping entrepreneurs build new businesses and on supporting existing small businesses.

"We will continue to push for a Scottish Business Start Up Fund, which would support access to enterprise education and vocational training, and to provide grants and loans to assist in the creation of new businesses. We want to make it compulsory to offer enterprise training at all colleges and universities, in partnership with local businesses.

"Scotland must put its faith in our entrepreneurs so we nurture new businesses, design new products and create new jobs. Long-term, this is the best way to grow our economy."

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