Jobless figures drop as workforce surges

Published on Wednesday 16 January 2008 21:00

CLAIMANT count unemployment across the UK fell to its lowest in 33 years to 807,700, the 15th successive month of decline.

The number of people in work saw its biggest jump in the three months to November in over ten years. And average earnings growth including bonuses held at 4.0 per cent.

Scotland mirrored the UK trend, with a quarterly increase in employment and a monthly fall in the claimant count.

The Scottish unemployment rate stands at 4.9 per cent, well below the UK average rate of 5.3 per cent. The claimant count measure fell by 400 over the month, and 13,200 over the year to stand at 71,600 for December 2007, close to the historical low at 2.6 per cent.