Labour market statistics

Scotland’s overall unemployment level rose slightly over the year by 2,000 to 169,000 according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures out today.

Labour Market Statistics for January to March 2016 show Scotland’s employment rate is 73.1 per cent, the second highest of the four UK nations.

Scotland’s female employment, unemployment and inactivity rates continue to outperform the UK. The figures show that Scotland’s female employment rate of 70.1 per cent remains above the UK rate of 69.2 per cent.

The inactivity rate, measuring those who are not in work and not actively seeking work, rose by 1.3 percentage points over the year to reach 22.0 per cent.

Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training Roseanna Cunningham said:

“Today’s statistics highlight ongoing challenges in Scotland’s labour market. Despite this, there are 141,000 more people now working in Scotland compared to the low during the recession.

“We saw record numbers in employment in Scotland during 2015 but employment rates are perhaps now starting to reflect the current economic challenges we are facing, in particular in the oil and gas industry.

“While our unemployment rate continues to be higher than the UK as a whole, our employment rate is 73.1 per cent, which is the second highest in the four UK nations.

“Rates of female employment, unemployment and inactivity continue to outperform the UK, which is welcome, but we know we must do more to increase the numbers of women getting into good quality, full-time employment.

“The Scottish Government will continue to do everything we can to boost the economy and help people maximise their potential by supporting business, investing in infrastructure, funding skills and retraining opportunities and implementing our youth employment strategy.”