Unemployment Data - January 2007

20th February 2007

UNEMPLOYMENT DIGEST SUMMARY
The January 2007 unemployment figures were released on 14th February 2007. During the month, December 2006 to January 2007, the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Great Britain rose by 4.6%, from 897,758 to 938,625 (40,867 claimants). This figure is higher than January last year, where the number of claimants stood at 926,599, an increase of 1.3% (12,026 claimants).

The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Scotland also rose during the month, rising 7.0%, from 82,818 to 88,623 (5,805 claimants). This figure is lower than the same period last year, where the number of claimants stood at 92,591, a decrease of 4.3% (3,968 claimants). As with GB and Scotland, the HIE area witnessed an increase in its unemployment rate during the month, rising 6.7% from 5, 889 to 6,283 claimants (394 claimants). This figure is lower than January last year, where the total claimants stood at 6,880, a decrease of 8.7% (597 claimants).

TABLE 1 - UNEMPLOYMENT RATES BY TTWA
The table below illustrates the claimant count rates for January 2007, using the 1998 TTWAs (Travel-To-Work-Areas). The claimant count rates are compared with December 2006 and January 2006 to highlight the monthly and annual changes. The TTWAs are ranked in descending order by the January 2007 figure.

Over the month, December 2006 to January 2007, the claimant count rates rose in 16 TTWA area's, fell in 2, and was static in the remaining 2 - Oban and Keith & Buckie. The greatest increase of 0.3% was shared by Sutherland, Campbeltown, Skye & Ullapool, Uists & Barra, Dingwall and Thurso. Badenoch & Strathspey had the greatest decrease over the month falling by 0.3%, from 2.0% to 1.7%. Over the year to January 2007, the claimant count rose in 3 TTWAs, fell in 14 and was static in the remaining 3 - Skye & Ullapool, Uists & Barra and Oban. The three areas that witnessed an increase
over the year, all rose by 0.3% - Lewis & Harris, Dingwall and Orkney Islands. Keith & Buckie had the greatest decrease over the year falling by 1.1%.