Unemployment Falls In Scotland

16 December 2015, 10:23 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Scotland's jobless total has fallen by 8,000 in the last quarter but the country continues to have a higher unemployment rate than the UK as a whole.

New figures showed the number of people out of work over the period August to October, including those not eligible for benefits, dropped to 156,000.

It comes after two months of rising unemployment, with the total for this the same as it was a year ago, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The jobless rate now stands at 5.6%, which is higher than the UK rate of 5.2%.

However, Scotland's employment rate is higher than the UK figure, with 74.3% of people in work north of the border compared to 73.9%.

Over the three months from August to October, employment in Scotland grew by 3,000 to 2,615,000 - a total which is 10,000 higher than the same period in 2014.

The number of Scots who are out of work and claiming jobseeker's allowance fell by 1,900 from October, to stand at 66,700 in November - with this total down by 20,200 over the year.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: "These latest figures paint a positive picture with employment in Scotland growing and unemployment falling.

"The UK Government is helping more people into work, we are letting people hold on to more of their pay and we are also introducing the National Living Wage next year.

"We are moving to a higher-wage, lower-tax society with historically-high numbers of people in work.

"Scotland is playing our full part in helping to grow the UK economy and create opportunities for more people.''