Aberdeenshire Labour Market Bulletin - September 2000

This quarterly bulletin provides information on key labour market trends across Aberdeenshire and sets the area in a national context. The bulletin follows a standard format consisting of a current issues review, a key statistics section and a local area breakdown of unemployment. The September 2000 issue includes analysis of annual change in unemployment for Aberdeenshire measured against other Scottish local authority areas.

Aberdeenshire Fisheries Bulletin - October 2000

This quarterly bulletin provides information on fisheries statistics and trends across North East Scotland and sets the area in a national context. The bulletin follows a standard format consisting of a current issues review, a key statistics section and a breakdown of volume and value of fish landings by port in North East Scotland and by main species.

The July 2000 issue includes analysis of the total allowable catches and UK fish quotas for 2000 and provides recent trends in quota levels

Aberdeenshire Rural Facilities Monitor - 1999

This annual bulletin, the fourth by Aberdeenshire Council, updates changes in the number and type of facilities in rural Aberdeenshire to the end of 1999. The bulletin provides a spatial breakdown of key rural facilities for Aberdeenshire overall and by administrative area within the Council area. Trends are analysed since 1981. In addition issues affecting rural facility provision are reviewed.

Business Mapping in the Tourism Sector

The Generic Business Map project was used as a basis for developing business plans and performing a generic skill needs analysis at the company level. The current project builds upon the findings of the first ESF funded project. The new project aims to develop a tool to be used by SMEs in the tourism sector to analyse skills and competencies requirements at the company level. The project will provide valuable information to training providers on current and possible future skills shortages in the tourism sector.

The objectives of the project are to:

• develop a model for a specific business map for the tourism sector, which builds upon the generic map generated in a previous ESF funded project;
• involve companies in the development of the tool, through consultations, company visits and opportunities for direct comment;
• undertake company level skills analysis in 30 SME at both owner/manager and employee levels; and
• disseminate project results to participants, relevant NTOs and training providers.

The ultimate objective of the project is to identify ways to combat skill shortages amongst North East Scotland based SMEs in the tourism sector. This project is run in co-operation with the Federation of Small Businesses

Core Skills and Key Competencies: an international research review

A summary of international reseach efforts from 7 countries to gather information about core skills, key competencies and respective public policy action. Policy recommendation submitted to Scottish Enterprise Network. Funding Body: Scottish Enterprise

Developing a Scope for Reearch on Skills and Employment in the Oil and Gas Industry

Policy strategy document with a vision on how future skills research for the industry should be conducted funded by Scottish Enterprise (Energy Group, Aberdeen). Related studies:

• Skills and Employment in the Oil and Gas Industry - 'The Industry Survey; and
• Skills and Employment in the Oil and Gas Industry - follow up.

Edinburgh & the Lothians: Accommodation Supply and Demand Study 2000-2005

This report summarises the findings of the Edinburgh and Lothian Accommodation Supply and Demand Study which was prepared in 1999. The study was inspired by partners desire to establish the current and future accommodation requirements for the Edinburgh and Lothians area and is the first time that the total accommodation sector has been appraised and future requirements estimated.

The report may be of interest to anyone involved in the research, analysis and development of tourism in the East of Scotland

Fife Labour Market Information Report Issue no.7, September 2000

This Fife Labour Market Information Report is part of a series presenting the results of the Fife Labour Market Information (LMI) Survey, which was undertaken in June 2000. The reports provide an analysis of companies' employment outlook, skills demand and skills shortages, recruitment methods, workforce structure, flexible workforce and training activity. The information from the Fife LMI Survey is supplemented by national data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) in order to set a context for the Fife information. Feature articles reporting on related matters of interest also appear regularly within the bulletin. The Fife LMI Company Survey is undertaken during March, June, September and December of each year and analysis of the Company Survey is issued quarterly. An annual summary is also issued following the completion of each four quarters.

Forth Valley Labour Market Report 1999-2000

The first edition of this report was first published in 1996 with the intention of updating the content every two to three years. It gives an overview of the labour market within Forth Valley while, where possible, breaking this down into the three local unitary authority area (Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire) as well as setting it in the wider context of the Scottish labour market.

The production of the report has been co-ordinated by Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley in conjunction with Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire unitary authorities. Additional contributions were made by many other partner organisations.

The report tries to answer the following broad questions:

• what is the Forth Valley labour market?
• what is the nature of the employment base in Forth Valley?
• what are the distinctive features of labour supply in Forth Valley?
• what can be said about future trends in the Forth Valley labour market?
• what labour market issues emerge from the analysis?

It is recognised that the report is not comprehensive and further research may be needed to answer more specific questions on the labour market of Forth Valley.

Generic Business Mapping: a tool for analysis, assessment and dissemination

Development of a new computer based labour market assessment tool aimed at Scottish SMEs. Project funding from the European Social Fund.

Midlothian Economic and Employment Review (September - October 2000)

This report provides a quarterly review of economic development and business initiatives within Midlothian between June and August 2000. The report consists of a review of local news over this period and in particular highlights confirmed or potential job gains/losses throughout the area. It also gives a detailed analysis of unemployment and employment in Midlothian in regard to the rest of the Lothians, Scotland, UK and Europe. The current issue also contains information on business growth and property enquiries in Midlothian.

Grampian Labour Market Study 1999

Every two years Grampian Enterprise commissions research into current and future labour market trends in the City of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. The 1999 study, by Mackay Consultants, looks closely at the issues facing the Grampian labour market over the next three to five years, in particular:

• The future of jobs within the oil and gas industry
• The sustainability of a labour market that relies heavily on the service sector
• The difficulties facing agriculture and their impact on rural job creation
• The impact of on-line commerce on the retail sector

Individual Learning Barriers

Moray Learning Alliance funded an ongoing empirical investigation; survey of 2,000 individuals in Moray to identify individual barriers to learning.

Labour Market Statistics - Tayside

Produced on a monthly basis to coincide with the official statistics, this publication is available from June 1998 onwards. Statistical information is presented primarily on the unitary authority areas and travel-to-work areas within Tayside, although some of the statistics are also presented at national level. Summary statistics include rates and levels of unemployment, unemployment by New Deal categories, long-term unemployment, notified and unfilled vacancies.

The New Deal and Welfare Reform ("From New Deal to Real Deal")

Working paper on the New Deal in Scotland, submitted to all Scottish MPs, the Scottish Office, DFEE, The Minister for Welfare Reform, etc. This project received funding from the Scottish Council Foundation, Edinburgh.

Quarterly Economic Bulletin (QEB) - Tayside

This bulletin is sub-divided into 4 parts: Spotlight, Bulletin Board, Performance Indicators and Global and National Trends. Spotlight provides a focus on a key sector, or similar topic, and discusses the main issues relating to this. The Bulletin Board highlights local news over the previous three months, including jobs news, new developments, high profile events, conferences, etc. The Performance Indicators section summarises changes in GDP, sectoral composition of employment, youth and long-term unemployment etc. The Global and National Trends section provides a summary of key indicators using alternative forecasts.

Scottish Forestry: An Input-Output Analysis

This study quantifies the magnitude of the forestry sector's contribution to the Scottish economy. By confining the analysis purely to the links arising from production and processing and ignoring the other benefits provided by Scottish woodlands (such as recreation, biodiversity, tourism and enhanced landscapes), the study is limited in scope. However, it focuses on an important component of the sector's overall contribution to the Scottish economy, and one which is essential to a more comprehensive assessment of the value of Scottish forestry.

The specific aims of the study were:

• to investigate, through multiplier analysis, the backward and forward linkage effects of a number of different generic forest types in Scotland;
• to improve understanding of the contribution of the sector at a sub-national level, ideally identifying the impact on both local areas and regions of a change in forestry activity;
• to investigate a number of alternative forestry-based scenarios including the total removal of the sector from the Scottish economy, the doubling of timber harvesting levels, import substitution by downstream processing firms, the effects of removing grant-aid to the sector, and finally changes in labour productivity.

Signposting the Future: A profile of West Lothian

Signposting the Future includes the facts and figures and an analysis of trends which provide a starting point for the development and delivery of strategies to ensure West Lothian's successful economic and social future. West Lothian's approach may be of interest to those in other areas with an interest and social and economic development. The document should also be available shortly on West Lothian Online at www.westlothian.gov.uk. This will be updated to reflect changes in the situation in West Lothian and in the available statistical data.

Skills, Employment and Social Exclusion: the City of Aberdeen

An empirical investigation; survey of 300 companies in the City of Aberdeen; with particular reference to discrimination and social exclusion. Policy recommendations were submitted to the Aberdeen City Council Skills Task Force. This research was funded by Aberdeen City Council (Economic Development Department). There is also a subsequent related project: Barriers to Learning and Future Training Needs in the City of Aberdeen.

Skills, Employment and Social Exclusion: an employee perspective summary

A survey of around 1,000 employees drawn from companies based in the City of Aberdeen. This is an ongoing investigation, also funded by Aberdeen City Council (Economic Development Department).

Skills, Employability and the Role of the new Scottish Parliament

Establishment of Scotland's largest policy network to discuss ways in which the New Scottish Parliament can influence skills employment and welfare policies. Funding Body: Scottish Council Foundation, Edinburgh.

Skills and Labour Market Intervention: an international research review

International research review on public intervention in the labour market, with particular reference to public skills policies. Summary and policy recommendations were submitted to Scottish Enterprise, who also commissioned and funded the research.

Skills Requirement Survey of Employers in Moray (based in Objective 5b area)

Recently completed empirical investigation; survey of 300 companies in Moray; provides results on training policy, skills shortages and recruitment practices; policy recommendation to be submitted to the Moray Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise. Supported by the European Social Fund and Moray and Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise (MBSE).

Tayside Annual Economic Review (AER)

Produced annually since 1996, when the Research Centre was established. Review 2000, issue no 5, is being finalised for publication in July. The report is divided into 3 main sections: key economic indicators and global trends; labour market analysis; and key sectors in the Tayside economy. The first section provides a general overview of the Tayside economy, focusing on recent changes and future prospects in the light of domestic and global developments. Section 2 analyses key labour market trends in the Tayside region in relation to the wider Scottish and UK context. Section 3 focuses on the key sectors in Tayside, including trends in VAT registrations, employment, productivity, net capital expenditure and future prospects. The Tayside sectors analysed in the 2000 issue include agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, biotechnology and academia.

Tayside Quarterly Labour Market Report (QLMR)

The QLM Report has been published regularly since November 1997. This publication makes extensive use of data available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), and reports on variables including activity rates, size and structure of the labour force, industry and occupational trends, unemployment, and distribution of vacancies. Part 1 of the document looks at local jobs news and highlights potential and confirmed job gains/losses in Tayside over the previous three months. Part 2 analyses short and long term changes in a number of LM variables. Part 3 features a special topic relating to labour market issues, which changes every quarter. The featured topic in the current issue is entitled "The Effect of Commuting Workforce on Local Unemployment Rate".

Training and Lifelong Learning

Empirical investigation; postal survey of over 400 companies throughout Scotlad, broken down by size and SIC. Report submitted to Scottish Enterprise, The Scottish Office and Glasgow Development Agency. Funding Body: Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Office, Glasgow Development Agency and The Robert Gordon University.

University for Industry and Barriers to Learning

Ongoing empirical investigation; survey of 400 companies and several hundred employees to investigate the potential use of UfI and respective barriers to learning. Funding: Scottish Enterprise.

The West Lothian Digest

The Digest is West Lothian's socio-economic and statistical newsletter for those with an interest in the local labour market, employment and social initiatives and policy news. It aims to promote social inclusion in West Lothian through discussion and dissemination of information on key issues. It is widely circulated with the area and includes contributions from a range of organisations working towards social inclusion in West Lothian.

Last Updated: March 2001