Record number of women in employment in Scotland
Latest labour market statistics for Scotland show unemployment continues to fall.
Unemployment in Scotland fell by 7,000, to 183,000 in the period February to April 2014, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data released today. The Scottish unemployment rate is 6.6 per cent, which is the same as for the whole of the UK.
The June labour market statistics also show employment in Scotland has increased by 16,000 over the three months February to April 2014. The number of those in employment in Scotland now stands at 2,578,000.
Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said:
Working together as part of the UK creates better opportunities, more secure jobs and record high levels of employment in Scotland. I am delighted today’s figures show there are a record number of women in employment in Scotland. Scottish female employment has increased by 35,000 over the past year.
More and more Scots are moving into employment or becoming entrepreneurs and the employers of tomorrow. Over the past year employment has increased by 48,000, unemployment has fallen by 10,000 and the number of Scots claiming jobseekers allowance has fallen for the 19th straight month and is 33,600 lower than 12 months ago.
There is much work to be done particularly in ensuring every community across the country sees the benefits of the on-going economic recovery. We will continue with our long term economic plan generating the conditions for business confidence to grow further helping them to create more high quality sustainable jobs.
Headline Statistics for the February to April 2014 quarter:
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Employment in Scotland increased by 16,000 over the quarter, and increased by 48,000 over the year, to stand at 2,578,000.
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The Scots employment rate rose by 0.5 per cent over the quarter to 73.4 per cent. The rate is above the UK average of 72.9 per cent.
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Unemployment in Scotland fell by 7,000 over the quarter and fell by 10,000 over the year. The level now stands at 183,000.
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At 6.6 per cent, the Scots unemployment rate is the same as for the UK as a whole.
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Economic Activity increased by 9,000 over the quarter and now stands at 2,761,000. Also, the Economic Activity rate increased over the quarter to stand at 78.7 per cent.
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In May 2014, the number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) was 100,500.
Latest data for Scotland
Employment
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) indicates that the number of people in employment in Scotland from February to April 2014 was 2,578,000. Employment was up by 16,000 compared to the previous three months, and was up by 48,000 compared to the same quarter last year. The employment rate was up by 0.5 p.p. on the previous quarter, and it was up by 1.2 p.p. compared to the same quarter last year, at 73.4 per cent. In comparison, the Scottish employment rate is above the UK average.
Unemployment
Unemployment in Scotland was down 7,000 over the quarter February to April 2014, to 183,000. The level was down 10,000 compared to the same quarter last year. The unemployment rate was down 0.3 p.p. on the previous quarter at 6.6 per cent, which is down 0.5 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 2,300 from April to 100,500 in May 2014. The level is down by 33,600 on May 2013. The claimant count rate is down 0.1 p.p. over the month at 3.7 per cent, and is down 1.2 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 February to April 2014 quarter was 2,761,000. This was up 9,000 on the previous quarter, and is up 37,000 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 0.9 p.p. over the year.