Employment increases in Scotland
Scottish Secretary comments on latest Labour Market Statistics for Scotland.
Employment in Scotland has increased by 12,000 over the three months from March to May, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data released today. The number in employment in Scotland now stands at 2,587,000.
Unemployment in Scotland increased by 13,000, to 192,000 in the period March to May 2014. The Scottish unemployment rate is 6.9 per cent, which is above the 6.5 per cent for whole of the UK.
Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said:
We have seen positive developments over the year as a whole with 76,000 more Scots in employment and 13,000 fewer in unemployment. In June alone, the number of people claiming JSA fell by 4,000 and is now 35,500 lower compared to one year ago. Claimant count is now below 100,000 and at its lowest level since December 2008.
Today’s news reminds us we need to continue creating the right conditions to get people into jobs. While it is disappointing to see unemployment rise at any time, the news comes against a backdrop of record overall employment, female employment and record private sector employment. The number of economically active people in Scotland is rising and the number of Scots claiming unemployment has now fallen for 16 consecutive months.
This Government is making the right choices for a stable, growing economy and the jobs that come with it – those are the best choices for Scotland and the people who live here.
Headline Statistics for the March to May 2014 quarter:
- Employment in Scotland increased by 12,000 over the quarter, and increased by 76,000 over the year, to stand at 2,587,000
- The Scottish employment rate remained unchanged over the quarter to 73.3 per cent. The rate is just above the UK average of 73.1 per cent
- Unemployment in Scotland increased by 13,000 over the quarter and fell by 13,000 over the year. The level now stands at 192,000
- At 6.9 per cent, the Scots unemployment rate is above the 6.5 per cent for the UK as a whole
- Economic Activity increased by 25,000 over the quarter and now stands at 2,779,000. Also, the Economic Activity rate increased over the quarter to stand at 78.8 per cent
- In June 2014, the number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) was 96,000
Latest Data for Scotland
Employment
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) indicates that the number of people in employment in Scotland from March to May 2014 was 2,587,000. Employment was up by 12,000 compared to the previous three months, and was up by 76,000 compared to the same quarter last year. The employment rate was unchanged on the previous quarter, and it was up by 1.4 p.p. compared to the same quarter last year, at 73.3 per cent. In comparison, the Scottish employment rate is just above the UK average.
Unemployment
Unemployment in Scotland was up 13,000 over the quarter March to May 2014, to 192,000. The level was down 13,000 compared to the same quarter last year. The unemployment rate was up 0.4 p.p. on the previous quarter at 6.9 per cent, which is down 0.6 p.p. over the year.
Claimant Count
The claimant count in Scotland, based on the seasonally adjusted number of people claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA), fell by 4,000 from May to 96,000 in June 2014. The level is down by 35,500 on June 2013. The claimant count rate is down 0.1 p.p. over the month at 3.5 per cent, and is down 1.3 p.p. over the year.
Economic Activity
The number of economically active (defined as those in employment or ILO unemployed, and seasonally adjusted) in Scotland in the March to May 2014 quarter was 2,779,000. This was up 25,000 on the previous quarter, and is up 63,000 on the same point a year ago. Among those aged 16-64 the economic activity rate was 78.8 per cent, up 0.3 p.p. on the previous quarter, and up 0.9 p.p. over the year.