Caithness.org News Bulletins

Front Page Archives

April 2005

UNEMPLOYMENT DIGEST
The methodology used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to calculate unemployment rates has been changed. The new method expresses the number of claimants as a percentage of the estimated population of working age residents in an area. The population of working age is defined as those aged 16 to 59 for women and 16 to 64 for men.

The population of working age residents has been derived from the 2001 Census data. All of the figures in this update adopt the new methodology. On average the new proportions are around a fifth smaller than the traditional rates, but there are variations around this (comparable figures are not available for previous years). The 2001 figures have been used to calculate unemployment rates for 2002 and 2003. These rates will be amended on release of new population estimates from the GRO(s).

SUMMARY
The March 2005 unemployment figures were released on 18th May 2005. During the month, March 2005 to April 2005, the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Great Britain fell by 1.2%, from 853,142 to 843,169 (9,973 claimants). However, this figure is still lower than the same period last year, where the number of claimants stood at 873,535, a decrease of 3.5% (30,366 claimants).

The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Scotland also fell during the month, falling 3.4%, from 93,577 to 90,411 claimants. As with Great Britain, the figure is lower than the same period last year, a decrease of 8.7% (8,616 claimants).

Unemployment in the HIE area also fell during the month, falling 9.7% from 6,780 to 6,128 claimants. As with Great Britain & Scotland, the figure is lower than the same period last year, a decrease of 14.5% (1,037 claimants).

Over the year to April 2005, unemployment decreased in 19 TTWAs, and was static in the remaining 1 – Keith & Buckie. Wick had the greatest decrease over the month, falling 1% from from 5% to 4%.

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED
The table below traces changes in the numbers (not rates) of unemployed people claiming benefits in the Highlands & Islands LEC areas between April 2005 and March 2005. A yearly comparison between April 2004 and April 2005 is also provided. The LECs are ranked in descending order by the size of the annual change in the number of unemployed, displayed in the right hand column.

Over the year April 2004 to April 2005, there was a decrease in all 10 LEC areas. Orkney had the greatest decrease over the year, falling 22.9% from 236 to 182 claimants. Ross & Cromarty had the second greatest decrease over the year, falling 18.9% from 938 to 761 claimants.

LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT
For the purpose of this analysis, long-term unemployment (LTU) is defined as ‘all those who have been unemployed and claiming benefit for over 6 months’. The table below shows the number of LTU for April 2005 in each of the LEC areas. It also highlights the percentage change in number of LTU over the month (March 2005 to April 2005) and over the year (April 2004 to April 2005). The LECs are ranked by the right hand column, which contains the size of the annual percentage change in numbers of LTU.
 

Source: Office for National Statistics (NOMIS)