November Labour Market Statistics for Scotland
Latest ONS Labour Market Statistics for Scotland
Unemployment in Scotland increased by 6,000, to 229,000 in the period July to September 2010, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data released today. The Scottish unemployment rate is 8.5 per cent, above the UK average unemployment rate of 7.7 per cent.
The labour market statistics also show employment in Scotland has increased by 21,000 over the three months to July to September 2010. The number of those in employment in Scotland now stands at 2,465,000.
The Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore said:
“The Spending Review set out the Government’s plan on how to tackle the deficit in order to secure growth, and provide the confidence businesses and individuals need to invest in long lasting and sustainable jobs.
“I take some encouragement that more people in Scotland went into employment than into unemployment. However, there is no room for complacency, and this Government will continue to set the conditions to foster sustainable and balanced economic growth and ensuring that work pays.
“This is why the Government’s welfare reforms will help Scots back into work, making it easier for people to see that they will be consistently and transparently better off for each hour they work and every pound they earn.”
Headline Statistics for the July - September 2010 quarter:
- Employment in Scotland increased by 21,000 over the quarter, and fell by 33,000 over the year to stand at 2,465,000.
- The Scots employment rate increased by 0.5 percentage points over the quarter to 70.7 per cent. The rate is just below the UK average of 70.8 per cent.
- Unemployment in Scotland rose by 6,000 over the quarter. The level now stands at 229,000.
- At 8.5 per cent, the Scots unemployment rate is higher than the UK figure of 7.7 per cent.
- Economic Activity level increased by 27,000 over the quarter and now stands at 2,694,000. The Economic Activity rate rose over the quarter, and stands at 77.4 per cent.
- In October 2010, the number of people out of work and claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) was 135,200. This represents an increase of 500 over the month and is the fourth increase since the beginning of the year.
Latest Data for Scotland
Employment
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) indicates that the number of people in employment in Scotland from July - September 2010 was 2,465,000. Employment was up by 21,000 compared to the previous three months and down by 33,000 compared to the same period last year. The employment rate increased by 0.5 per cent over the quarter, and fell 1.1 per cent over the year, to 70.7 per cent. In comparison, the Scottish employment rate is just below the UK average.
Unemployment
Unemployment in Scotland was up 6,000 over the quarter July - September 2010, to 229,000. The level was up 33,000 compared to the same quarter last year. The unemployment rate was up 0.1 p.p. from the previous quarter to 8.5 per cent, which is up 1.2 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), increased by 500 from September, to 135,200 in October 2010. The level is up by 700 on October 2009. The claimant count rate is unchanged over the month at 4.9 per cent, and unchanged over the year.
Economic Activity
The number of economically active (defined as those in employment or ILO unemployed, seasonally adjusted) in Scotland in the July - September 2010 quarter was 2,694,000. This was up 27,000 on the previous quarter, and unchanged on the same point a year ago. Among those aged 16-64, the economic activity rate was 77.4 per cent, up 0.6 p.p. on the previous quarter, and down 0.2 p.p. over the year.
To access the data from the ONS site, click on the following link:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=15084
Select the link “Regional Monthly Data - November 2010” which will prompt you to unzip a folder of Excel files. Then select the file “LMSScot0910” to access the data.