Unemployment figures welcomed
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Last week’s ‘Advertiser’ reported that, alongside an overall fall in unemployment of 8% - 6% for those without a job in the 18-24 age bracket - the Buckie area was performing above the national average when it came to new business start ups taking advantage of the New Enterprise Allowance scheme.
Local SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson hailed the announcement as “very encouraging” for the area.
“The local statistics for the Buckie Travel-to-Work Area are good news and very encouraging, highlighting the fact that the action the SNP in Government is taking is protecting jobs and helping more people into work,” he commented. “Buckie has not had its troubles to seek in past years, so it’s good to get some positive news on the employment front.
“Scotland is the only nation in the UK where unemployment fell between March and May this year – in the UK as a whole, unemployment rose to 5.6 per cent.
“It is also positive to see youth employment at a record high for the March-May period. Despite difficult economic circumstances and cuts passed down from the UK Government, the SNP has taken action at every turn to ensure young people are able to fulfil their potential in education, work or training - and since coming to power the number of Modern Apprenticeships has increased by almost 60 per cent.”
Welcoming the figures, Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon told the ‘Advertiser’ that she believed Chancellor George Osborne had delivered an “excellent budget” for business.
She continued: “It’s very welcome to see Scotland beginning to turn the tide after a disappointing few months previously but there are still areas of concern, particularly in certain age brackets, that need to be addressed.
“The Chancellor delivered an excellent budget for business and for workers last week, cutting corporation tax, boosting wages and lifting tens of thousands more people out of taxation so I would hope the positive figures nationally and in Buckie will continue to improve. The UK government is working hard on this and we need to see the SNP take a similar approach, ensuring both governments are doing their best for Scotland’s economy.”
Conservative Fochabers-Lhanbryde Douglas Ross added: “I’m pleased to see that the number of 18-24 year olds unemployed has fallen over the last year as it is vital that people get into work as quickly as possible to use their skills from school, college, university or an apprenticeship.
“While a budget can never please all of the people all of the time I was particularly pleased to see the recent announcements which are aimed to encourage people into work.
“Hopefully the positive trends we have seen in Buckie over the last year will continue next year and beyond.”
