Staff of Inverness Jobcentre Plus

That the Parliament thanks the staff of Inverness Jobcentre Plus, and of every jobcentre across the Highlands and Islands region, for their work in helping constituents into secure and rewarding employment; recognises the effort that work coaches put into building the confidence, skills and work experience of the people who come through their doors, often over many months and at difficult points in their lives; acknowledges the challenges that jobseekers in the Highlands and Islands face in obtaining work, including the scarcity of childcare in rural and island communities, limited and infrequent public transport, the seasonal pattern of much local employment and the cost of travelling long distances to interviews and training; acknowledges the finding in the Highlands and Islands Regional Economic Partnership's Childcare in Rural and Island Communities Evidence Report, which was submitted to Scottish ministers in May 2025, that childcare accessibility problems now affect more than 100 rural and island communities in the region; notes that around 63% of the population of the Highland Council area lives in rural or remote areas; commends the efforts of jobcentre staff to work around these barriers through outreach, flexible appointments and partnership working with local employers, colleges and Skills Development Scotland, and wishes them continued success in supporting constituents into good and sustainable employment.