October Labour Market Statistics for Scotland
Latest figures show number of unemployed people in Scotland has fallen.
Unemployment in Scotland fell by 3,000, to 201,000 in the period June to August 2013, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data released today. The Scottish unemployment rate is 7.3 per cent, which is below the average of 7.7 per cent for the whole of the UK.
The labour market statistics also show employment in Scotland has increased by 37,000 over the three months June to August 2013. The number of those in employment in Scotland now stands at 2,548,000.
The Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael said:
Today’s labour market figures are very encouraging, employment has increased by 37,000 over three months and is now at its highest level since before the global economic crash and the number of Scots claiming Jobseeker’s allowance is down by 18,200 compared to one year ago.
We continue to work hard to create the right conditions for sustained long term employment in Scotland. As part of the UK, Scotland gains from tax reductions such as the new employment allowance of £2,000 per year, benefiting 70,000 businesses in Scotland by £100m in total, and taking 35,000 businesses out of employer national insurance contributions altogether.
As we go forward, my focus will be on helping businesses in Scotland to create job opportunities for young people and the long-term unemployed in particular. I believe a focus on apprenticeships will help offer a route into work for our young people.
Headline Statistics for the June to August 2013 quarter:
- Employment in Scotland increased by 37,000 over the quarter, and increased by 58,000 over the year, to stand at 2,548,000
- The Scots employment rate increased over the quarter to 72.8 per cent. The rate is above the UK average of 71.7 per cent
- Unemployment in Scotland fell by 3,000 over the quarter and fell by 20,000 over the year. The level now stands at 201,000
- At 7.3 per cent, the Scots unemployment rate is below the UK rate as a whole at 7.7 per cent
- Economic Activity increased by 33,000 over the quarter and now stands at 2,749,000. The Economic Activity rate increased over the quarter to stand at 78.7 per cent
- In September 2013, the number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) was 121,800
Latest Data for Scotland
Employment
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) indicates that the number of people in employment in Scotland from June to August 2013 was 2,548,000. Employment was up by 37,000 compared to the previous three months, and was up by 58,000 compared to the same quarter last year. The employment rate was up on the previous quarter by 0.9 p.p., and it was up by 1.6 p.p. compared to the same quarter last year, at 72.8 per cent. In comparison, the Scottish employment rate is above the UK average.
Unemployment
Unemployment in Scotland was down 3,000 over the quarter June to August 2013, to 201,000. The level was down 20,000 compared to the same quarter last year. The unemployment rate was down by 0.2 p.p. on the previous quarter at 7.3 per cent, which is down 0.8 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 3,500 from August to 121,800 in September 2013. The level is down by 18,200 on September 2012. The claimant count rate is down 0.1 p.p. over the month at 4.3 per cent, and is down 0.6 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 June to August 2013 quarter was 2,749,000. This was up 33,000 on the previous quarter, and is up 38,000 on the same point a year ago. Among those aged 16-64 the economic activity rate was 78.7 per cent, up 0.8 p.p. on the previous quarter, and up 1.1 p.p. over the year.