Over a third of residents out of work

Alarming figures have revealed over a third of working age residents in South Ayrshire are currently without jobs.

The latest employment statistics show 5,005 people in the region currently claim out- of- work benefits.

That equates to 7.6 per cent of 16 to 64- year- olds – while 15,400 were still furloughed last month and a further 4,200 were on the Self- Employment Income Support Scheme ( SEISS).

That means the total number of people out of work in the region is 24,605, or 37 per cent of the working age population.

It’s a similar picture in East Ayrshire where 27,140 people ( 36 per cent) are currently not working – with 6,340 of those claiming benefits, 17,000 on furlough and 3,800 claiming SEISS funds.

Worryingly, the highest rates of those claiming benefits are seen among young people – 13.2 per cent of 18- 24 year olds in South Ayrshire and 14.6 per cent in East Ayrshire.

South Scotland MSP, Colin Smyth, labelled the figures “deeply worrying”.

The Labour politician said: “The level of unemployment seen in these statistics is deeply shocking and it is particularly devastating among young people across Ayrshire.

“If this continues we risk losing a whole generation to the scourge of unemployment, which is heartbreaking.

“What is worse is that these figures are just the tip of the iceberg.

“They exclude the thousands of other people locally who are no longer employed compared to last month but don’t receive benefits.

“We should never forget that behind the numbers are local people whose livelihoods have been snatched from them, so my thoughts are very much with all those affected.

“Covid- 19 is first and foremost a health crisis but it has also now become a massive economic crisis.”

It comes as UK chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a Winter Economic plan to try and stave off millions of job losses across the country with two thirds of employees’ wages set to be paid by the government.