News story

September Labour Market Statistics for Scotland

Latest unemployment statistics for Scotland published.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Unemployment in Scotland fell by 15,000, to 168,000 in the period May to July 2014, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data released today. The Scottish unemployment rate is 6.0 per cent, which is just below the rate of 6.2 per cent for the whole of the UK.

The labour market statistics also show employment in Scotland has increased by 45,000 over the three months May to July. The number of those in employment in Scotland now stands at 2,623,000.

Headline statistics for the May to July 2014 quarter:

  • Employment in Scotland increased by 45,000 over the quarter, and increased by 87,000 over the year, to stand at 2,623,000.

  • The Scots employment rate increased over the quarter to 73.9 per cent. The rate is above the UK average of 73.0 per cent.

  • Unemployment in Scotland fell by 15,000 over the quarter and fell by 35,000 over the year. The level now stands at 168,000.

  • At 6.0 per cent, the Scots unemployment rate is below the rate of 6.2 per cent for the UK as a whole.

  • Economic Activity increased by 30,000 over the quarter and now stands at 2,791,000. Also, the Economic Activity rate increased marginally over the quarter to stand at 78.8 per cent.

  • In August 2014, the number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) was 89,700.

Latest Data for Scotland

Employment

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) indicates that the number of people in employment in Scotland from May to July 2014 was 2,623,000. Employment was up by 45,000 compared to the previous three months, and was up by 87,000 compared to the same quarter last year. The employment rate increased on the previous quarter, and it was up by 1.5 p.p. compared to the same quarter last year, at 73.9 per cent. In comparison, the Scottish employment rate is above the UK average.

Unemployment

Unemployment in Scotland was down 15,000 over the quarter May to July 2014, to 168,000. The level was down 35,000 compared to the same quarter last year. The unemployment rate was down 0.6 p.p. on the previous quarter at 6.0 per cent, which is down 1.4 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 3,200 from July to 89,700 in August 2014. The level is down by 35,600 on August 2013. The claimant count rate is down 0.1 p.p. over the month at 3.3 per cent, and is down 1.3 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 May to July 2014 quarter was 2,791,000. This was up 30,000 on the previous quarter, and is up 52,000 on the same point a year ago. Among those aged 16-64 the economic activity rate was 78.8 per cent, up marginally 0.1 p.p. on the previous quarter, and up 0.4 p.p. over the year.

Published 17 September 2014