Protecting jobs ‘is now a priority’ as one in five households is workless
Renfrewshire politicians have called for an urgent focus on protecting jobs after data revealed almost one-in-five households in the region are workless.
Figures compiled by the Reach Data Unit show 18.2 per cent of households in the area at the end of last year were occupied by people who were all either economically inactive or unemployed.
The stark statistic is higher than both the Scottish and UK average and has been gradually on the rise since 2017, when 16.1 per cent of households were workless.
The data also suggests unemployment is a bigger problem in Renfrewshire than in some of its neighbouring local authorities, such as East Renfrewshire where just 14.3 per cent of households were jobless last year.
The distressing situation these households endured in 2019 could be worsened by the ongoing Covid- 19 pandemic, despite the UK government’s efforts in implementing the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme.
Paisley- based MSP Ne i l Bibby has insisted that, with the virus crisis leading to mass redundancies, governments must now place a “relentless focus” on creating jobs and making sure people stay in work.
“After the Covid crisis in Renfrewshire, there is now an unfolding jobs crisis, with a wave of redundancies sweeping across our community,” said Mr Bibby, who represents Renfrewshire as part of his West Scotland remit.
“What these figures confirm is we went into this crisis with an under-performing economy and already with a rising level of unemployment.
“It’s time for real political leadership on the economy with a jobs guarantee to keep people in work and a relentless focus on jobs.
“Whether it’s preventing jobs going or creating new ones, Renfrewshire needs decisive action from governments.
“Renfrewshire ranked among the hardest-hit places in Scotland in terms of the covid death rate and now we are experiencing redundancies, with the threat of more to come.
“We need a fair deal for Renfrewshire to lift us out of the crisis. It’s time the council and other politicians realised that and started fighting for the investment we need.”
Stat i s t i c s f rom the UK Government also indicate a third of posts eligible for the Job Retention Scheme in Renfrewshire have been furloughed, with almost 27,000 people now receiving 80 per cent pay through the initiative.
The take-up rate is one of the highest in Scotland, with only Stirling, South Ayrshire, Perth and Kinross, Glasgow City and Highland councils having higher rates.
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said the UK Government needs to take immediate action to ensure highskilled jobs are protected, after the region has been badly hit by job losses at firms such as Rolls-Royce and Menzies Aviation.
The SNP man said: “These figures show how important secure and long- term employment is for communities across Renfrewshire.
“Government figures also report those in Renfrewshire who are in a job earn 23 per cent more than the Scottish average, showing how vital it is we expand our industrial base and support businesses.
“Renfrewshire is being badly affected by the pandemic, with the aviation sector playing such a large role in our local economy.
“It ’ s a disgrace the UK Government hasn’t come up with a plan for areas like Renfrewshire where the aviation industry is large.
“We need an industrial and economic plan that ensures highvalue, high-skilled jobs stay in this country.”
The UK and Sc o t t i s h Government s, along with Renfrewshire Council, all said they were committed to working with businesses to protect jobs.
Fiona Hyslop, S c o t t i s h Government economy secretary, said: “The Scottish Government’s focus will be on protecting jobs, creating jobs, ensuring quality jobs and supporting skilled jobs.
“Our work to prioritise those hardest hit by this pandemic is clear through our commitment of at least £ 50 million for youth employment and the Scottish Job Guarantee, as well as our dedicated Transition Training Fund which will provide opportunities to upskill and transition into employment.
“We are also focused on generating significant economic growth through further action to support our small and medium sized businesses, proposals to alleviate planning restraints and our commitment to continue working closely with business leaders to ensure we are doing all we can.”
A UK Government spokesman added: “Our Plan for Jobs is focused on getting Britain working again, with Scotland receiving a share of almost £ 28billion to support local councils, businesses and communities in fighting this pandemic.
“We’re also boosting our flexible support fund by £ 150million, allowing our job centres to put in place the right support for their community.
“And we are doubling the number of work coaches across our network of job centres.”
Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “The council has administered £ 27.5m of government grants to more than 2,600 local businesses since the pandemic started.
“During lockdown we teamed up with Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce to engage with almost 500 local firms to find out how best we could support them.
“The results of that were used to shape a £ 1.3m package of immediate council funding to target support to Renfrewshire businesses to help them continue to trade and to adapt premises to deal with social distancing.
“Our Invest in Renfrewshire programme has brought Renfrewshire’s unemployment rate down.
“We will continue to work closely with business, enterprise and education leaders to publish a road map which will support Renfrewshire’s economic recovery.”
Whether it’s preventing jobs going or creating new ones, Renfrewshire needs decisive action