Employment figures published
Scottish Secretary says March Labour Market Statistics for Scotland 'round off a remarkable period of success for this government'.
Unemployment in Scotland increased by 6,000, to 162,000 in the period November 2014 to January 2015, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data released today. The Scottish unemployment rate is 5.9 per cent, which is above the rate of 5.7 per cent for the whole of the UK.
The labour market statistics also show employment in Scotland rose by 6,000 over the three months November to January. The number of those in employment in Scotland now stands at 2,611,000.
Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said:
Today’s figures round off a remarkable period of success for this government – we now have 174,000 more people in Scotland in work than we did in 2010. The number of women in employment has also increased by 101,000 in that time.
That shows the real difference the economic choices of this government have made to the lives of people in Scotland. We saw record employment in 2014, while the number of people claiming benefits has fallen by over 27,000 over the last 12 months and is down to a level last seen in June 2008.
Today’s Budget will build on that success as we take further steps to secure a prosperous future and manage our finances responsibly. The latest economic forecasts confirm growth will continue this year and next and strengthen the labour market further.
Headline Statistics for the November 2014 to January 2015 quarter:
- Employment in Scotland increased by 6,000 over the quarter, and increased by 48,000 over the year, to stand at 2,611,000.
- The Scots employment rate remained unchanged over the quarter at 74.0 per cent. The rate is above the UK average of 73.3 per cent.
- Unemployment in Scotland increased by 6,000 over the quarter and fell by 28,000 over the year. The level now stands at 162,000.
- At 5.9 per cent, the Scots unemployment rate is above the rate of 5.7 per cent for the UK as a whole.
- Economic Activity increased by 12,000 over the quarter and now stands at 2,773,000. Also, the Economic Activity rate increased over the quarter to stand at 78.7 per cent.
- In February 2015, the number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) was 79,400.
Latest Data for Scotland
Employment
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) indicates that the number of people in employment in Scotland from November 2014 to January 2015 was 2,611,000. Employment was up by 6,000 compared to the previous three months, and was up by 48,000 compared to the same quarter last year. The employment rate remained unchanged on the previous quarter, and it was up by 1.2 p.p. compared to the same quarter last year, at 74.0 per cent. In comparison, the Scottish employment rate is above the UK average.
Unemployment
Unemployment in Scotland was up 6,000 over the quarter November 2014 to January 2015, to 162,000. The level was down 28,000 compared to the same quarter last year. The unemployment rate was up 0.2 p.p. on the previous quarter at 5.9 per cent, which is down 1.1 p.p. over the year.
Claimant Count
The claimant count in Scotland, based on the seasonally adjusted number of people claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA), fell by 2,000 from January to 79,400 in February 2015. The level is down by 27,700 on February 2014. The claimant count rate fell by 0.1 p.p. over the month at 2.9 per cent, and is down 1.0 p.p. over the year.
Economic Activity
The number of economically active (defined as those in employment or ILO unemployed, and seasonally adjusted) in Scotland in the November 2014 to January 2015 quarter was 2,773,000. This was up 12,000 on the previous quarter, and is up 20,000 on the same point a year ago. Among those aged 16-64 the economic activity rate was 78.7 per cent, up 0.2 p.p. on the previous quarter, and up 0.3 p.p. over the year.