25,000 fall in payrolled workers

SCOTLAND has 25,000 fewer payrolled employees compared to pre-pandemic levels – despite a UK recovery.

Official figures also show that though the employment rate rose slightly in the most recent quarter, it still lags behind the UK’s.

However, unemployment has fallen, with the rate of people aged 16 and over out of work between May and July at 4.3 per cent, 0.1 per cent down on the previous quarter.

This was below the UK-wide unemployment rate of 4.6 per cent for over-16s.

The Office for National Statistics said yesterday there are 2.37million payrolled staff in Scotland, according to August estimates, 25,000 fewer than in February 2020.

Its report noted: ‘This compares with the UK where the number of payrolled employees has returned to the same level as in February 2020.’

Scottish Conservative economy spokesman Liz Smith said: ‘Even before the pandemic Scotland’s economic performance was sluggish compared to their counterparts elsewhere in the UK. The nationalist coalition of chaos should drop their push for another divisive independence referendum and focus on getting Scottish workers into jobs as soon as possible to help grow Scotland’s economy.’

Employment Minister Richard Lochhead said: ‘The Scottish Government will continue to do all we can to support employees and employers and we are carefully monitoring any impact on employment as the job retention scheme unwinds at the end of this month.’