Figures realised today by the Office for National Statistics have shown that unemployment in Scotland has reached 223,000, a rise of 4,000 between May and July. The UK average unemployment rate stands at 8.1% but in Scotland this raises to 8.2%.

Locally the amount of people claiming job seekers allowance in Mid Scotland and Fife stands at 17,143. Kirkcaldy has the highest number of claimants with 3,339 followed by Mid Fife and Glenrothes (2,355), Cowdenbeath (2,331) and Dunfermline (2,037).

16,700 jobs have been cut from the Scottish public sector with 11,300 being directly cut by the Scottish Government.

Commenting on the new figures, Claire Baker said:

“Plan A is not working and neither is Plan McB. We are now in the longest double-dip recession since the Second World War and this is happening under the watch of both the Conservative led coalition and the SNP Government.

“It is not as simple as one government blaming the other. Whilst the double dip recession was created through George Osborne cutting too far too fast, unemployment in Scotland is now above the UK average and it is the actions of John Swinney in Bute House that has resulted in the cut of 11,300 Scottish public sectors jobs.

“Locally many areas in Fife are above the Scottish average in those claiming job seekers allowance, including Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes. What they desperately need is the Scottish Government to create jobs here in Fife rather than China, Poland and Spain like they have done with the Forth crossing. The skills and resources are right here on our doorstep but they need the opportunities the current Government simply isn’t affording them.”