4,000 households in East Lothian are out of work, figures show

The data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that no one between the ages of 16 and 64 in more than 4,000 East Lothian households was employed at the time of the annual population survey.

The findings come at the same time as overall employment in the county has increased slightly.

Figures show that the number of people in either part-time or full-time employment in East Lothian rose to 78.6 per cent between April 2017 and March 2018, an increase of 3.6 per cent from the previous year, when the rate was at 75 per cent.

Councillor Brian Small, leader of the opposition Conservative Group on East Lothian Council, said: “Obviously the fact that 4,000 households are without work is worrying.

“Work isn’t only important for the financial benefits to those in employment, it also generates health and social benefits for them.

“Having something to get up in the morning for is good for you.

“But we have to welcome that East Lothian is better than both the UK and Scottish average but there is still more that can and should be done to get people back into work.”

Peter Dicker of East Lothian Foodbank, based in Tranent, said: “Although the statistics for the increase in the population in work is encouraging, the foodbank can only comment on the fact that over the same period that the statistics were compiled for April 2017 to March 2018 we here at East Lothian Foodbank experienced a 12 per cent increase on the number of referrals we had sent to us – this 12 per cent compares to a national average of a 13 per cent increase on referrals (Trussell Trust stats).

“Since the introduction of Universal Credit in April 2016 we have seen an increase in people being referred to us by over 45 per cent (April 16 to March 17 was 37 per cent increase).”

The figures from the ONS estimate that last year 14 per cent of households in East Lothian were workless, lower than the Scotland-wide average of 18 per cent.

County MP Martin Whitfield said: “Clearly the increase in the local employment rate over the last year is welcome. However, the fact there are still many people out of work remains a concern. It underlines the complacency of the UK Government, which is simply not doing enough to help people into work.

“East Lothian Council, through its East Lothian Works employability service, is doing a good job supporting jobseekers, but both the UK and Scottish Governments must do more to enhance prosperity and create new jobs.”

East Lothian MSP Iain Gray added: “I welcome the fact that East Lothian’s employment rate is higher than the Scottish average. However, too many local people are still not in work. We need a fundamental shift in how we grow our economy.

“We also need to ensure opportunities for creating these kind of jobs locally are maximised at the former Cockenzie Power Station site and the new innovation park at QMU.”

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: “Unemployment figures in East Lothian are following a positive trend as there are over three per cent more people in employment now compared to last year.

“The council continues to strive to grow East Lothian’s economy and to make it the best place in Scotland to live, work and do business and we would very much hope our employment figures will continue to rise year-on-year as a result of this work.

“It is difficult to comment in detail on the figure of 4,000 households being classed as out of work as it’s unclear, as yet, exactly how this figure has been calculated.

“It is also important to note that the roll-out of full service Universal Credit in East Lothian has had an effect on the recording of our out-of-work levels so this too needs to be looked at more closely.

“East Lothian Works continues to support people of all ages and abilities to gain skills, re-train and undertake courses and work experience to get them back into rewarding employment, working closely with employers and education providers. There are also many initiatives to support the most vulnerable in our society, including those living in poverty, including projects initiated by our area partnerships designed to meet the needs of our very different communities across East Lothian.”

Across Scotland, the most common reason people gave for not being in work was being sick or disabled – 37 per cent of out-of-work individuals cited illness or disability as the primary reason.

Students made up 13 per cent of the group, and 18 per cent were early retirees, with 10 per cent of jobless people in the area officially ‘unemployed’ – looking for work and able to start within two weeks.

A spokesperson from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said: “Since 2010 the proportion of workless households is down in every region of Great Britain.

“The unemployment rate remains at its lowest since 1971, but we’re committed to ensuring that everyone who wants to work has the opportunity to do so – while making sure there is a safety net for those who can’t.”

The DWP has also said that the majority of employment growth has been in both full-time and permanent roles.

David Leese, policy analysis manager at charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said that workless families in particular were at a much higher risk of poverty.

Figures from the DWP for 2016-17 show that in workless households nearly 75 per cent of children were growing up in poverty, compared to only five per cent of children with two working parents.

“If a child lives in poverty, it affects their health, their education, their family relationships and their plans for the future,” Mr Leese said. “It’s not right that any child lives in such insecure circumstances.”