Unemployment figures ‘deeply alarming’

Unemployment figures released today show that the Scottish unemployment rate is at 8.5%, which is above the UK average of 8.3%.

Commenting on the figures, Scottish Conservative Finance Spokesman Gavin Brown MSP said:

"These are deeply alarming figures which reveal that a worrying number of people in Scotland are out of work. In previous quarters, the SNP has been quick to claim the credit when Scotland's unemployment rate was better than the UK's.

"I hope today they at last accept their culpability in the Scottish economy and work with the UK Government to get Scotland open for business. The engine of recovery is the private sector, and we need a system which equips our teenagers and workforce for the new opportunities which will emerge.

"That is why I am especially concerned with the growing number of young Scots who are not in employment, training or education. We cannot sit back and create a lost generation.

"The SNP's decision to decimate Scotland's colleges is a body blow to the very institutions which we need to train the workforce of tomorrow and to give our people the skills our country needs.

"It is time for the SNP to wake up and start using the considerable powers we have at Holyrood over business tax, college funding, town centres and enterprise. If used well they could transform our economy and create hope and opportunity for Scotland."

"There is an early opportunity for the Scottish Government to see the error of their ways when they bring their draft budget to the Scottish Parliament next month.

"Amendments must be made to the budget to prioritise the economy, such as avoiding retail tax increases, and Ministers must also reconsider their funding cuts to other areas that help the economy."

Back to all posts