Jump in jobless figures

15 per cent rise over year

Stirling’s jobless total has jumped 15 per cent in the last year.

Figures released by the Office For National Statistics show that in November there were 970 people claiming out-ofwork benefits in the area, up from 845 in the same month last year.

The figure, which accounts for 1.6 per cent of the area’s population, also represents an increase on October’s total of 950 and the September figure of 905.

However, the number of claimants in Stirling area peaked in February, when 1005 or 1.7 per cent of the population were claiming out-of-work benefits.

Of the 970 claimants 610 were men and 360 were women. Five were aged 16-17, 230 were aged 1824, 490 were aged 25-49 and 240 were aged 50 and over.

Across Scotland unemployment rose by 14,000 between August and October, with the latest total sitting at 145,000, although the Scottish Government say the unemployment rate dropped by 0.4 per cent over the year.

Martin Nowakowski of the DWP said that the number of people out of work in the Stirling area had fallen by 47 per cent since the peak of the recession in 2010.

He added: “There are a number of things happening in Stirling to help prepare people for work, including the fourweek job club which is being run.

“Through this work experience can be offered in addition to helping with things like CV writing and interview techniques.

“It’s about trying to best equip people to give them an edge. A lot of younger people are good with technology and good on social media but the club tries to teach the more basic things they may not be as confident with.”

Last month the Observer reported that almost 650 positions have been slashed by major companies in Stirling since the summer, including 240 jobs at the MOD base in Forthside and positions at HSBC at Castle Business Park and BHS in the Thistles Centre.