Scottish councils have among the highest number of workless households in the UK

Responding to Office for National Statistics figures published today which show that Clackmannanshire, South Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway appeared in the 10 areas with the highest percentage of workless households in the UK for 2022, Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP said:  

“These figures paint a picture of sluggish local economies and a lack of good jobs. That's especially tragic when the cost-of-living crisis means that many of these households will also be facing rising costs.

“Despite having had 16 years to make progress, the SNP have instead let our skills and educational sectors fall down the international rankings. Businesses that I speak to are worried about rising costs, the steady creep of Scottish Government regulation and the hopeless handling of major projects like the deposit return scheme.

"What's even worse is that the nationalist separation agenda threatens investment and puts up fresh barriers to Scottish businesses flourishing. The First Minister has promised a reset with business but that needs to be more than warm words.  

“Scottish Liberal Democrats would end more than a decade of depressed economic performance. We would invest in education and small business and harness our relationship with the rest of the UK to make Scotland a highly skilled country with first-class economic potential. That's how to help out of work households get back on their feet again.”