Figures reveal 14,000 drop in people unemployed

Unemployment in Scotland has fallen by 14,000 in three months, official figures show.

Data for July to September reveals that 129,000 people were out of work during that period.

The unemployment rate now stands at 4.7%, just below the rate of 4.8% recorded for the UK as a whole.

While unemployment fell, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that employment also dropped by 25,000 over the same spell.

The number of those in work in Scotland stands at 2,604,000.

The Scottish Government said there are now 40,000 more people in employment than at the pre-recession peak in 2008.

But the UK Government said the employment rate, now “lagging behind” the UK, should be a concern to Scottish ministers.

ONS data shows that employment fell by 25,000 over the quarter to a rate of 73.6%, below the UK average of 74.5%.

Compared with the same time last year, employment is down by 12,000. However, unemployment has also fallen over the course of the year, by 38,000.

In September, the number of people out of work and claiming jobseeker’s allowance was 54,000.

Holyrood’s Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: “Today’s labour market statistics again show that Scotland is outperforming the UK on unemployment and has the second highest employment rate of the four nations.

“Our female and youth employment rates are also higher than those for the UK as a whole.”

The SNP MSP added that given the current “challenging economic conditions”, the administration will continue efforts to support growth.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: “It is good news that unemployment continues to fall in Scotland.

“But with Scotland’s employment rates now lagging behind the rate of the UK and economic inactivity on the rise, these figures should be a concern to the Scottish Government.”

The Conservative MP called on Scottish ministers to use next month’s budget to set out how they plan to use “significant new tax and welfare powers” to support the economy.