Scottish unemployment rate lower than UK for 10 months in a row

Scotland’s unemployment rate remains lower than the UK average, with overall employment rising by 0.2 per cent in the last quarter, new Offices for National Statistics (ONS) data has revealed.

Scotland’s unemployment rate fell to 3.3 per cent, 0.5 per cent lower than the UK.

An additional 7,000 Scots were employed between March and May 2019, from the December 2018 to February 2019 quarter, with Scotland’s employment rate rising to 75.8 per cent.

However, this remained below the UK’s 76 per cent employment rate.

Scottish Government Business Minister Jamie Hepburn said employment was now “very close to the highest on record”.

“Yet again we are seeing strong results for Scotland’s labour market. Our unemployment rate has now been lower than the UK’s for 10 months in a row,” Hepburn said.

He said Scotland was also outperforming the rest of the UK in employment rates for young people and women.

“These latest results show Scotland is seeing the benefits of our labour market strategy - driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth, rising to the challenges of our labour market and delivering fair and good quality work across society,” Hepburn said.

“While Scotland’s economy and job market continues to perform, the UK Government’s EU exit plans, in whatever form, will cost jobs, make people poorer and damage our society.”

Scotland Secretary David Mundell said: “It is very positive to see that employment levels remain high while the number of people who are unemployed has stayed at almost a record low.”

“The UK Government is ensuring a strong Scottish economy by investing in city and growth deals across Scotland,” he said.