Unemployment Update - March 2007
6th May 2007
Summary
The March 2007 unemployment figures were released on 14th March 2007. During the month, February 2007 to March 2007, the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Great Britain fell by 1.9%, from 948,577 to 930,094 (18,483 claimants). This figure is lower than March last year, where the number of claimants stood at 960,487, a decrease of 3.2% (30,393 claimants).
The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Scotland also fell during the month, falling 2.7%, from 89,798 to 87,397 (2,401 claimants). This figure is lower than the same period last year, where the number of claimants stood at 95,361, a decrease of 8.4% (7,964 claimants).
As with GB and Scotland, the HIE area witnessed a decrease in its unemployment rate during the month, falling 3.3% from 6,388 to 6177 claimants (211 claimants). This figure is lower than March last year, where the total claimants stood at 6,826, a decrease of 9.5% (649 claimants).
Caithness and Sutherland unemployment fell as at March 2007 to 722 claimants for benefit with the percentage dropping for unemployment benfit claimants by 3% between Feb 07 and March 07. The percentage drop between March 06 and March 07 was 11.6%.
Over the month to March 2007, the number of people claiming unemployment benefit rose in 1 and fell in the remaining 8 LEC areas. Shetland had the only increase over the month, rising 4.2% from 191 to 199 claimants.
Skye and Wester Ross had the greatest decrease of the month falling 9.5% from 389 to 352 claimants.
Over the year to March 2007, there was an increase in 1 of the LEC areas and a decrease in 8. Innse Gall had the only increase over the year, rising 4.7% from 551 to 577 claimants. Shetland had the greatest decrease over the year, down 26.3% from 270 to 199 claimants.
Long-term Unemployed
the number of long-term unemployed fell in the Caithness and Sutherland area to 250 a drop of 18% between March 06 and March 07.
Information from highlands and Islands Report. the full report can be seen at -
http://www.hie.co.uk/HIE-economic-reports-2007/Unemployment%20Report%20-%20April%202007.pdf
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