38,000 Scots are facing their second Christmas on the dole as Government fails to take action to halt long-term unemployment

December 19th 2012

38,000 Scots are facing their second Christmas on the dole as Government fails to take action to halt long-term unemployment

December 19th 2012

‘Figures reveal miserable picture for thousands of Scots facing second Christmas on the dole’

Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary Grahame Smith said:

“There is never a good time to be out of work but it’s particularly tough at Christmas when there is a lot of pressure to buy presents for the kids and big family reunions that add to food and transport costs.

“With nearly 40,000 people facing a second Christmas on the dole – over 8,000 of them young people – it is time for meaningful action by government to deal with the crisis of worklessness.

“Since last Christmas, 50% more Scots find themselves in the position of having been out of work for 12 months or more. This is miserable for them and disastrous for the long-term health of the economy

“When the Coalition took power in May 2010, the number of young Scots out of work for more than a year stood at just over 2,000. Shockingly that figure had quadrupled by November this year.

“Given that only 3.5 per cent of people referred onto the Work Programme were able to find a job for a decent length of time, we desperately need a new approach and a reversal of the decision to cut resources for employment support.”

ENDS

www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/gor/2013265931/subreports/gorccadrtime_series/report.asp

For further information contact Dave Moxham 0141 337 8100