Scots unemployment remains unchanged as UK total rises

UNEMPLOYMENT in Scotland remained unchanged at 164,000 during the period May to July while the number out of work for the UK as a whole increased by 10,000 to 1.82 million during the same period.

Scottish unemployment figures remained unchanged. Picture: Ian Georgeson

Scotland’s unemployment rate of 5.9 per cent was above the UK’s rate of 5.5 per cent, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures showed.

Meanwhile, employment in Scotland fell by 12,000 during the three month period, with the number of those in work now standing at 2,612,000.

The employment rate for Scotland fell over the quarter at 74.0 per cent - a figure above the UK average of 73.5 per cent.

Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell, commenting on the latest figures, said: “The government’s long term plan has laid the foundations for a stronger economy.

“It is almost exactly a year since Scotland made the historic decision to remain part of the UK. In those 12 months we have seen further improvements in the Scottish Labour market with employment increasing and unemployment falling.”