Highland unemployment record is one of the worst in Scotland
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THE Highlands has one of the worst records of people who are out of work in Scotland, it has been claimed.
Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant said that the full-time employment deficit in the Highland Council area could be over 18,000, making it the fourth worst council area in the country.
Mrs Grant said that the figure is made up of 3000 people who are currently unemployed in the region, along with 4800 economically inactive people who suffer from health issues or have family commitments, and 10,500 under-employed workers who are working part-time or looking for longer hours.
She said that the Scottish Government needs to do more to get the Highland economy working at full capacity .
"The monthly unemployment total tells us the number of people who are seeking work," said Mrs Grant.
"What it doesn’t show are those looking for full-time work or longer hours because their current financial circumstances are insufficient to provide an adequate standard of living for themselves and for their families.
"We have over 4000 people currently registered as unemployed plus many more looking for full-time work to make ends meet.
"If these people were in productive full-time employment, they would be creating tax revenue and so helping to bringing down the deficit."
