Furthermore, the gap between the average claimant count unemployment rate for Scotland and the average for the worst four wards in North Ayrshire has decreased by 0.5 percentage points.Average earnings in North Ayrshire have increased by 5.1% between 1999 and 2002 and the number of employee jobs in North Ayrshire has increased by 11% between 1999 and 2001, compared with 6.5% in Scotland.Overall attainment levels in publicly funded schools have remained fairly steady since July 1999, although the percentage of the S4 roll who attained five or more standard grades (or equivalent) has increased from 91% to 93% in 2002 in North Ayrshire (whilst the national average has remained at a constant 91%).