Jobless rate hits a record low

Unemployment in Scotland has fallen by more than a fifth in the last year, with the jobless total down to a record low of 94,000.

Official figures for November 2018 to January show that the number of Scots who were out of work had reduced by 21.5% over the last 12 months.

Employment grew by 10% over the year, to stand at 2,676,000, according to the Office for National Statistics, an increase of 13,000 over the quarter.

The unemployment rate in Scotland now stands at 3.5% – lower than the overall rate for the UK of 3.9%

That marked the first time the UK jobless rate has fallen below 4% since 1975.

In Scotland the proportion of those aged 16 to 64 who were in work increased to 75.3%.

Business minister Jamie Hepburn welcomed the fall in unemployment – but warned that leaving the European Union could “cost jobs”.

Mr Hepburn said: “Despite the huge and continued challenges of Brexit, the Scottish economy and jobs market continues to strengthen.

“Scotland’s employment rate rose to 75.3%, close to the highest on record. The unemployment rate fell yet again, to 3.4%, another record low and lower than the rest of the UK. Scotland is performing particularly well on unemployment rates for women and young people. At 2.6% for women and 7.4% for young people, both rates are at record lows.”