Unemployment At December 2006
31st January 2007
UNEMPLOYMENT DIGEST
SUMMARY
The December 2006 unemployment figures were released on 17th January 2007. During the month, November 2006 to December 2006, the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Great Britain rose by 0.2%, from 895,833 to 897,758 (1,925 claimants). This figure is higher than December last year, where the number of claimants stood at 865,512, an increase of 3.7% (32,246 claimants).
The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Scotland fell during the month, falling 0.5%, from 83,274 to 82,818 (456 claimants). This figure is lower than the same period last year, where the number of claimants stood at 83,628, a decrease of 1.0% (810 claimants).
The HIE area witnessed an increase in its unemployment rate during the month, rising 2.8% from 5,717 to 5,878 claimants (161 claimants). This figure is lower than December last year, where the total claimants stood at 6,175, a decrease of 4.8% (297 claimants).
Over the month, November 2006 to December 2006, the claimant count rates rose in 13 TTWA area's, fell in 4, and was static in the remaining 3 - Keith & Buckie, Argyll Islands and Lochgilphead. Oban and Lochaber shared the highest increase over the month, both rising by 0.5%, whilst Campbeltown and Inverness shared the greatest decrease over the month, both falling 0.2%.
Over the year to December 2006, the claimant count rose in 5 TTWAs, fell in 10 and was static in the remaining 5 - Sutherland, Skye & Ullapool, Argyll Islands, Elgin & Forres and Badenoch & Strathspey. Lewis & Harris, Campbeltown and Oban shared the highest increase over the year all rising by 0.3%. Keith & Buckie and Lochaber shared the greatest decrease over the year both falling by 0.5%.
Related Businesses
Related Articles
The much-anticipated return of the funicular railway at Cairngorm Mountain will not take place in December, as had been hoped. Contractor Balfour Beatty has substantially completed an extensive remediation programme to strengthen the 1.8km viaduct, however detailed inspections have shown that further work is required in some areas.
A sand mining company in Lochaber is set to double its production and increase annual turnover by more than £2.6m. Lochaline Quartz Sand Limited (LQS) has secured up to £230,000 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards the £855,000 costs of upgrading equipment on site.
The newly appointed head of business growth for Highlands and Island Enterprise (HIE) in Argyll and the Islands is to focus on expanding the agency's portfolio of business clients. Liam Orr, originally from Benderloch near Oban, took up the post in early December and leads HIE’s business growth team across an area covering Argyll and Bute, Arran and the Cumbraes.
An Aviemore-based adventure tourism operator has made significant progress in sustainability over the past two years by investing in e-bikes, e-vehicles and a carbon labelling system. Wilderness Scotland has reduced its scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions by 16 percent through its commitment to business decarbonisation.
The funicular railway at Cairngorm Mountain looks set to be back in action towards the end of December or early in the new year. Contractor Balfour Beatty has confirmed that, weather permitting, its current programme of remediation works on the viaduct that supports the railway is due to finish in the next week to 10 days, after which teams working for the company plan to demobilise from the mountainside.
Fetcha Chocolates is investing in new equipment to quadruple its capacity, increase turnover and create employment. An Argyll based chocolate manufacturer is investing in new equipment to quadruple its capacity, increase turnover and create employment.
Is your young business ready for the next step?. The Young Business Capital Grant helps young businesses and social enterprises (under 5 years old) invest in projects that stimulate growth.
Shell-volution is an ambitious industry-wide initiative supported by the public sector and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) which has been awarded £4.4 million of investment from the UK Government as part of the Islands Growth Deal. This innovative, ground-breaking project is set to transform shellfish aquaculture, bringing sustainable growth and additional quality jobs in mussel farming, based on detailed investigations (mapping and monitoring) and creating a model for improving security and reliability of wild spat recruitment, through industry best practice.
A Nairn-based foundry, which has achieved international recognition for its larger-than-life bronze castings has invested in a £200,000 expansion to help it reach greater heights. An award of £60,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has helped Black Isle Bronze to improve infrastructure and purchase equipment to extend the range of projects the firm can undertake.
Young businesses and social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands looking to increase productivity, innovation and employment can apply for funding from HIE. The fourth round of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Young Business Capital Grant (YBCG) is now open to businesses that have been trading for less than five years with up to 250 full-time equivalent employees.
