East Dunbartonshire unemployment up 50% since 2008
August 14, 2009 3:04 PM
Jo Swinson MP has expressed grave concern over new unemployment figures for East Dunbartonshire.
The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in East Dunbartonshire has risen to 1195, an increase of more than 50% since the end of 2008. Unemployment is rising much faster in Scotland than in the rest of the UK, with 31,000 people in Scotland becoming unemployed in the last quarter alone.
Unemployment among young people is rising particularly fast, and the Liberal Democrats have warned that there is a risk of today's school and university leavers becoming a "lost generation of long-term unemployed."
Meanwhile, business leaders say unemployment has not yet peaked, with the Institute of Directors claiming that the number of unemployed is likely to continue to rise even after the economy starts to grow again.
Commenting, Jo Swinson said:
"I am deeply concerned about the rate at which unemployment is rising in East Dunbartonshire. The Labour Government is clearly not doing enough to help people find work. It is particularly worrying at this time of year when many people are leaving school or university and finding themselves without a job to go into.
"With the claimant count rising faster in Scotland than the rest of the UK, the SNP cannot sit by and blame Westminster for all of Scotland's economic woes. Both Governments should be working together to help lift the country out of recession. Making 'tsars' out of reality TV caricatures won't cut it - what we need is investment to create jobs and we need it now."
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