Jobless rate at record low but Brexit threat to prosperity remains

● Encouraging figures offset by small drop in number of Scots who are in work

Scotland’s unemployment rate has fallen to a record low, with the latest figures showing only 3.7 per cent of the population do not have a job.

The jobless total for the country fell 13,000 over the three months from August to October – a drop of 11.2 per cent – to stand at 100,000.

Joblessness fell among both men and women, with the number of men out of work down by 8,000 over the period to 58,000. The number of women without a job fell 5,000 to 42,000.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also showed there was a small reduction in the number of people in work. This fell by 1,000 over the period, with 2,633,000 people aged 16 and over in employment.

Three-quarters (75 per cent) of the working-age population – meaning those aged between 16 and 64 – had some form of work, putting the employment rate below the 75.7 per cent recorded across the UK as a whole.

But the Scottish unemployment rate was significantly lower than the 4.1 per cent recorded across the UK.

Scotland’s business minister Jamie Hepburn said the figures showed “the Scottish economy and jobs market remain strong despite the continued challenges of Brexit”.

Mr Hepburn said: “This is our lowest unemployment rate on record.

“Although overall employment fell very slightly over the quarter, on employment for women and young people, we continue to outperform the UK with a rate of 71.3 per cent for women, higher than the UK rate of 71.2 per cent, and 58.8 per cent for young people, higher than the UK rate of 55.9 per cent. Compared to the UK, we also have lower rates of unemployment for both women and young people.”

He added: “We remain committed to creating the right economic environment for jobs growth and our record on unemployment shows this is working.

“However, Brexit remains the biggest threat to Scotland’s prosperity and these statistics reinforce the urgent need to ensure the positive work we are doing to strengthen our economy is not undone.”

With the figures published the day before the Scottish budget, Mr Hepburn said this would “set out how we help protect Scotland as far as we can from the damaging uncertainty of Brexit”.

He added: “Ultimately, we believe staying in the EU is in Scotland’s best interests.”

Scottish Secretary David Mundell welcomed the fall in unemployment, but added: “It is of great concern that economic activity keeps falling and is below that of the UK.”