Number of Scots in work hits 4 year high

The number of Scots in work is at its highest for more than four years, new figures have revealed.

Picture: PA

Official statistics for the period April to June showed a total of 253,100 people in employment - a rise of 13,000 over the quarter and 31,000 higher than for the same period last year.

That is the highest total since the start of 2009, according to the Scottish Government.

At the same time as employment increased, the jobless total fell.

Over the three months from April to June, unemployment, which includes those who are out of work and not eligible for benefits, fell by 1,000 to stand at 198,000.

The jobless total is now 17,000 less than for the same time last year.

The number of Scots who are out of work and claiming jobseeker’s allowance also dropped by 2,900 from June to 129,300 last month - the lowest total since June 2009.

Scotland continues to have a higher employment rate and a lower unemployment rate that the UK as a whole.

The employment rate north of the border is 72.1%, compared to 71.5% for the UK. Across the UK as a whole, 7.8% of people are out of work while the proportion in Scotland is 7.2%.

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