Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has welcomed a big drop in workless households in 2013 but has called for more to be done to help those currently out of work.
Workless households are households where no-one aged 16 or over is in employment. These members may be unemployed or inactive. Inactive members may be unavailable to work because of family commitments, retirement or study, or unable to work through sickness/disability.
In Perth and Kinross 13.2% of households were workless, in Fife the number was 18.2%, 25.3% in Clackmannanshire and 19.8% in Stirling. In 2012 the numbers were significantly higher, 17.1% in Perth and Kinross, 21% in Fife, 28.9% in Clackmannanshire and 20.1% in Stirling.
Perth and Kinross along with the Western Isles was Scotland’s top performer in terms of a percentage drop in workless households.
Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“The number of workless households in Perth and Kinross, Fife, Stirling and Clackmannanshire has been dropping significantly over the past year but more can always be done to help those not in employment.
“The UK Government has made real progress in getting the long-term unemployed back to work and now the Scottish Government needs to step up and help those struggling on the margins.
“In Mid-Scotland and Fife there is still a real divide between local authorities performing well and others that are not which must change if we are to successfully tackle poverty.”