10
Unemployment
30.
The challenges facing Ayrshire in relation to unemployment, and youth unemployment in particular,
are widely understood and a matter of great concern to the College, Community Planning
Partnerships and other partners. The rate of youth unemployment, as reported using the limited
measure of 18-24 year olds claiming unemployment benefit, is high for each local authority but
particularly in East and North Ayrshire. Despite falls in recent months in the rate of 18-24 year olds
claiming Jobseekers Allowance, unemployment rates remain higher than pre-recession and the
number of long-term unemployed young people is rising. North Ayrshire continues to experience
amongst the highest rates of youth unemployment in Scotland.
31. relation to the SLDR, for school leavers entering unemployment and seeking work, East Ayrshire
In
is 1.1pp higher than the national average of 7.1% and eighth highest in Scotland; South Ayrshire is
0.8pp lower than the national average; and North Ayrshire is 2.0pp lower than the national average
and tenth lowest in Scotland.
Building on evidence
32.
There are rich sources of evidence at a local and national level which are valuable in helping the
College to understand the challenges facing individuals, communities and the local economies.
This includes the Regional Skills Assessment in preparation by Skills Development Scotland (SDS).
The College has had constructive discussions with SDS about access to its analytical services. The
work done by the CPPs on local labour market analysis, neighbourhood planning and the collation
of evidence to demonstrate the diversity of need amongst different communities will be invaluable
in enabling the College to target those in the most deprived areas.
33.
With a new Planning and Performance function, supported by a new single MIS system, the
College will enhance its own evidence base and capacity to analyse information and trends about
our student population. Critically, we will share this with our partners as we plan, through the
partnership structures in place, to best use our collective resources for the benefit of Ayrshire’s
people, communities and economy.
34.
Complemented by our involvement in the partnership structures in place, this intelligent use
of information will contribute to shaping and monitoring the targets we set for achieving the
key priorities which underpin this Outcome Agreement.
Ayrshire College Outcome Agreement 2014-17