Unemployment rate rises in Scotland but not in any other UK nation

Scotland’s unemployment rate has increased to 6.2 per cent, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

In the ONS April bulletin, 20,000 more people were classed as unemployed in Scotland since October, to bring the total to 171,000. Across the rest of the UK there was only 1,000 more.

Scotland is the only of the UK nations to see an increase in the unemployment rate over the latest three month period, and also over the last year.

The rate across the UK stands at a lower rate of 5.1 per cent, down 0.1 per cent from the last quarter.

In the three months to February 2016, the number of people in work and the number of unemployed people increased across the UK, but the number of people not working and not seeking or available to work (economically inactive) fell.

This includes 21,000 more than for September to November 2015 but 142,000 fewer than for a year earlier across the UK.

The stats show 79.2 per cent of men and 69.1 per cent of women aged from 16 to 64 were in work across the UK. This represents a record high employment rate for women.

Work and Pensions Secretary of State Stephen Crabb said: “We remain in a position of strength, with a record employment rate, wages continuing to grow steadily and three-quarters of a million vacancies available in the labour market.”