Unemployment in Scotland up 14,000

Jobcentre plus - credit Lydia

The number of unemployed in Scotland rose by 14,000 between August and October, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics.

Employment in Scotland fell by 40,000 for the same period.

The total number of unemployed across the UK fell in the same period by 16,000.

The unemployment rate in Scotland is now 5.3 per cent, compared to the whole UK rate of 4.8 per cent.

The Scottish Government said the unemployment rate had fallen over the year, and pointed to figures for female and youth employment, while Scottish Secretary David Mundell said the SNP’s budget must now reflect the shifting pattern in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK.

The Scottish Chambers of Commerce said the figures showed the Scottish economy was “cooling down”.

Chief executive Liz Cameron said: "The UK government must guarantee that existing EU workers can stay and work in the UK, and the Scottish government has a golden opportunity during the Budget announcement tomorrow to tackle the rising costs of business rates and provide a boost to business just when we need it most."

Grahame Smith, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) said:

“With employment registering another significant fall and inactivity amongst working age people surging by 6.6% over the year, there’s simply no escaping the truth that this is another set of worrying statistics. And, as it increases by 14,000 between August and October, falling unemployment cannot be seriously invoked to mask wider problems in the labour market.

“It is essential that Derek Mackay is mindful of Scotland’s deteriorating labour market conditions when announcing his Budget tomorrow and that he does all he can to protect jobs”.