“Of even more significance than the
fall in unemployment over the piece has been the steady increase in employment
over the same period.”
“There are over 4000 more people in
Cunninghame North who are in employment now compared with 1997” said Mr
Wilson
“Such growth in employment opportunities
locally would have been impossible under the previous Tory Government with
its adherence to boom and bust economics and doctrinaire refusal to interfere
with the workings of the market in North Ayrshire.”
“Labour on the other hand has demonstrated
the importance of market intervention particularly on the supply side of
the economy, to improve the skills base and create new opportunities through
new deal and modern apprenticeships for young people entering the labour
market for the first time.” said Mr Wilson.
“The other big change has been to
introduce enhanced child care provision and new child care tax credits
which have enabled so many more women to secure employment which they would
otherwise have been denied due to their child care responsibilities” said
Mr Wilson.
“Continued low inflation coupled with
record low interest rates have also helped to create the macro economic
environment which has created the confidence to invest in new employment
opportunities and build the service sector as a new engine for economic
growth.”
Recent new job opportunities created
by AEA at Glengarnock and Westcot Financial Services at Saltcoats are both
examples of the public agencies Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire and North
Ayrshire Council working in partnership with the Scottish Executive to
stimulate economic activity in unemployment blackspots created by Tory
market failure” said Mr Wilson.
“We cannot be complacent however
as the downturn in manufacturing in the electronics industry has had a
disproportionate effect on employment locally and we must continue to stimulate
new job opportunities utilising to the full our unique deep water facility
at Hunterston for example to create more employment directly and indirectly
at the proposed Trans -shipment container terminal” concluded Mr Wilson.
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