Numbers out of work rise by 5,000 in three months, latest official figures reveal

THE number of people in Scotland out of work has risen by 5,000 in the last three months, with the unemployment rate now matching that in the rest of the UK.

The latest figures from the Office of National Statistic showed the number of jobless adult Scots under 65 rose 0.2 points to 4.3 per cent between November and January.

Overall, around 118,000 people were unemployed, against 2,664,000 in work.

Scottish employment fell by 8,000 on the previous quarter, with the rate now 74.8%.

In the UK as a whole, employment rose 168,000 (0.3%) to 32.2m, the highest figure since records began in 1971, a rate of 75.3%. However UK unemployment also rose 24,000 to 1.45m. Excluding bonuses, pay in Scotland fell by 0.2% when adjusted for inflation.

SNP employability minister Jamie Hepburn acknowledged there was a “slight decrease” in employment, but said the employment rate had increased over the past year and long term.

He said: “Once more, we continue to outperform the UK on employment and unemployment rates for young people and women, 71.5% of women and 58.8% of young people are in employment in Scotland compared to 70.9% of women and 54.5% of young people in the UK.”

“Our support for young people includes a commitment to train at least 28,000 new apprentices next year, including opportunities at degree level, and 5,000 Foundation Apprenticeships in the senior phase of Curriculum for Excellence, by 2020.”

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said: “These figures underline the sense of complacency from the SNP Government in Edinburgh when it comes to the economy. Ministers continue to claim that the fundamentals of our economy are strong.

“Instead we are seeing rising unemployment and for too many people who are in work, that work is insecure – temporary, zero hours’ contracts, paying less than the living wage.”

The Scottish Chambers of Commerce said vacancies were at “historically high levels”.

Chief executive Liz Cameron said: “Despite poor wage growth in real terms, there has been an increase in the growth rate in comparison to the last quarter. In order to ensure sustained real terms wage growth, there must be a renewed focus on increasing productivity. The private sector will lead the way, and we also expect our partners in government to do their part to remove barriers to investment and provide long-term certainty.”

Andy Willox of the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland said: “These worrying figures show that Scotland’s headline jobs metrics are both moving in the wrong direction. Getting local economies growing to reverse this trend must be the country’s top priority.”