Wed 14 Nov 2012
Commenting on the publication today of the latest official labour market statistics for Scotland, Grahame Smith, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary said:
“Today’s figures bring yet more miserable news for Scotland. The small rise in unemployment is perhaps not as worrying as the very significant fall in employment.
“It is a particular concern that so many women in particular seem to be leaving the labour force altogether as the prospect of finding decent work becomes ever more remote. Rapidly increasing very long-term unemployment, particularly amongst young people, will saddle Scotland with massive human, social and economic costs for the foreseeable future.
“It is to be expected that the UK figures will be seized on by the Chancellor as evidence of the success of the coalition’s economic strategy. However, any fair assessment must surely conclude that a stagnant economy increasingly characterised by low wage, insecure, part-time, temporary and self-employment represents pretty poor validation of the austerity agenda.
“Therefore it is essential that the autumn statement must include substantial new measures to embed recovery and grow good jobs. However it is probably best not to hold our breaths in anticipation”.
ENDS
STUC news release:
http://www.stuc.org.uk/news/983/stuc-on-labour-market-statistics
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