Work and Poverty
The population of working age in West Lothian of 116,171 has continued to increase and it is projected to increase by 8.2% up to 2033.
Latest estimates indicate that 87,200 or 72.5% of the working age population are in employment (compared to 74.5% for Scotland). Within this total there are 78,000 employees (64.8%) and 8,300 self-employed (6.8%). The latest estimated jobs density for West Lothian is 0.72 jobs available per working age person.
Local unemployment is 2.7% of the general working age population. This rate is 0.4% below the Scottish average and 1.4% below the UK average. The tightening of labour supply and an ageing workforce can be seen as an opportunity for local people to retrain and up-skill.
| Indicator | West Lothian | Scotland | UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% | 3.1% | 4.1% |
| In-Work Claimants as Percentage | 6% | 5.7% | 6.4% |
| In-Work Claimants as Number of Population | 6,997 | 195,967 | 2,642,830 |
Gross wage levels for West Lothian (workplace) are generally just below the Scottish levels. The exception to this is part-time employment where annual and weekly pay for both residents and within the local job market are higher.
- Some key statistics around unemployment and poverty in West Lothian are;
- Unemployment is currently 2.7% of the general working age population and 4.4% for 18-24-year olds
- The West Lothian unemployment rate is 0.4% below the Scottish average and 1.4% below UK average
- 3,120 people in West Lothian are receiving Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit and are searching for work
- 0.72 jobs available per working age person
- In-work claimants of Universal Credit make up 6.0% of the West Lothian working age population
Underemployment and insecure jobs continue to be key factors for the working age population creating potential for higher levels of 'in work poverty'.
- 70% of children in poverty live in working families
- An estimated 14.2% of all jobs in West Lothian pay hourly rates below the living wage. Scotland has a slightly lower rate of 11.4%.
- Average weekly pay for full time employment is £721.90 or £38,195 per year (residents). Scottish averages FT are £740.00 weekly pay and £38,286 per year
- 14.5% of West Lothian working residents earn below the living wage compared to 11.4% for Scotland as a whole.
Whilst unemployment and economic inactivity as a result of ill health, disabilities or caring responsibilities can contribute as key drivers to poverty, the reduction in unemployment over the last five years has been accompanied by an increase in the number of "working poor" and growth in insecure jobs and underemployment.
