The ‘workless’: 1 in 5 families where nobody has got a job

SNP’s Indyref 2 ‘obsession’ blamed

‘Responsibility is at SNP’s door’ ‘Concerning but not surprising’

THE number of Scottish homes where no one works has soared by 5,000 over the past year.

Almost a fifth of households north of the Border are classed as ‘workless’, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The figures highlight a rise in families with no adult of working age in employment, with this rocketing from 336,000 to 341,000 over the past 12 months.

In Scotland, 18.4 per cent of households are classed as workless – 4 per cent higher than the UK average of 14.9 per cent.

Last night, opposition politicians denounced the figures as ‘deeply concerning’ and blamed the decline on the SNP and its ‘sole obsession’ with independence.

Scottish Conservative economy spokesman Dean Lockhighlights hart claimed the figures were evidence of the SNP’s ‘woeful management of Scotland’s economy’.

He said: ‘Not only are there more workless households than almost everywhere else in the UK, we are just a quarter away from recession while the rest of Britain thrives.

‘These are responsibilities that lie at the SNP’s door.

‘But instead of addressing them, the Scottish Government carries on with a string of anti-business measures and makes Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK.’

Yesterday’s ONS report the rise in workless households in Scotland from the first quarter of 2016 to the same period this year.

The ONS describes ‘workless’ households as those where no one between the ages of 16 and 64 is in employment.

This can mean they are unemployed, studying, retired or unable to work through sickness or disability.

The report, which is published quarterly, also shows that the rate of workless homes north of the Border is higher than the UK average of 14.9 per cent.

Across the UK there are 3,081,000 homes in which no adult is in employment.

Scottish Labour economy spokesman Jackie Baillie said: ‘These figures are deeply concerning, but sadly unsurprising.

‘Instead of focusing on growing the economy, Nicola Sturgeon’s sole obsession is to force a divisive second independence referendum which has brought nothing but economic uncertainty.’ Miss Baillie added: ‘With some income tax devolved, it is vital that we expand the economy and increase revenues by creating the high-skilled, highpaid jobs of the future.’

The report comes only weeks after figures revealed that the economy in Scotland had contracted by 0.2 per cent, while the UK’s economy had grown.

If the nation’s economy is shown to shrink again, Scotland will be plunged back into recession for the first time in five years.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Scotland’s labour market continues to perform well in the face of significant economic challenges.

‘Unemployment is down, employment is up and Scotland’s youth unemployment rate is among the lowest in the European Union.’

The spokesman added: ‘For January to March 2017, 57.3 per cent of households in Scotland were working households. This is an increase of 0.9 percentage points over the year.’