HC Deb 06 March 1975 vol 887 cc486-8W
Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many building trade workers are presently unemployed in Scotland; and how this position compares with February 1973.

Mr. John Fraser

The numbers unemployed in Scotland who last worked in construction were 20,182 in February 1975 and 21,028 in February 1973.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of young people in Scotland who have not obtained a first job after leaving school.

Mr. John Fraser

At 10th February the provisional number was 3,692.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing Scottish male and female unemployment

NUMBERS UNEMPLOYED AND NOTIFIED UNFILLED VACANCIES IN SCOTLAND
Notified unfilled vacancies
Unemployed At Employment Offices At Careers Offices
Males Females Males Females Males Females
February 1975 78,593 22,733 9,800* 7,300* 1,120 1,551
February 1974 74,805 18,339 8,822 6,601 2,338 2,883
February 1973 93,719 26,386 7,693 5,689 1,212 1,589
February 1972 118,192 30,637 3,052 3,008 601 1,001
February 1971 91,789 22,304 3,713 3,480 925 1,760
February 1970 72,839 16,944 6,606 5,499 1,650 3,370
Note: Vacancies notified to employment offices include some that are suitable for young persons and those notified to careers offices include some suitable for adults. Because of possible duplication the two series should not be added together.
* The figures for some offices have been estimated.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number of semi-skilled and unskilled workers in Scotland who have been unemployed for up to three months, three to six months, and over six months, respectively.

Mr. John Fraser

Analyses showing duration of unemployment do not indicate the degree of skill of the unemployed. The following table shows the information available for October 1974. A similar analysis due in January 1975 was not made owing to industrial action at local offices of the Employment Service Agency.

Analysis by duration of unemployment in Scotland at 14th October 1974
Up to 13 weeks 40,084
Over 13 and up to 26 weeks 13,052
Over 26 weeks 31,524
Total 84,660

Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many semi-skilled and unskilled males are presently unemployed in Scotland; and if he will show these figures in terms of employment exchange areas.

Mr. John Fraser

The occupational analyses of the unemployed do not provide separate comprehensive figures for semi-skilled and unskilled categories.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is able to provide a broad estimate of the proportion of the by category, with notified vacancies; and if he will show how this compares with the same period in the previous five years.

Mr. John Fraser

Following is the information:

80,000 school leavers in 1975 who will go straight on to the labour market.

Mr. John Fraser

About 80 per cent. of the young people who will leave school in Scotland during the 1974–75 academic year are expected to seek employment.