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Scottish unemployment falls below UK rate | Scottish unemployment falls below UK rate |
(35 minutes later) | |
Unemployment in Scotland has fallen by 14,000 in the three months to March to reach 120,000, official figures have shown. | Unemployment in Scotland has fallen by 14,000 in the three months to March to reach 120,000, official figures have shown. |
It takes the jobless rate to 4.4% - below the rate of 4.6% for the whole of the UK. | |
The labour market statistics also show that employment in Scotland increased by 5,000 and now stands at 2,620,000. | The labour market statistics also show that employment in Scotland increased by 5,000 and now stands at 2,620,000. |
In the UK as a whole, the unemployment rate is at its lowest level in 42 years. | In the UK as a whole, the unemployment rate is at its lowest level in 42 years. |
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the Scottish employment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points over the quarter to 74%. The rate is below the UK average of 74.8%. | |
In April 2017, the number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance was 48,200. The claimant count, including Universal Credit, was 80,000. | In April 2017, the number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance was 48,200. The claimant count, including Universal Credit, was 80,000. |
The Scottish government said the ONS figures also showed a strong performance for Scotland in the female labour market, with the unemployment rate for women falling by 0.7 percentage points over the year to 4.2%. | |
The youth employment rate was 3.9 percentage points higher than the previous year, with the level rising by 15,000. | |
Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: "Today's statistics show that Scotland's labour market continues to perform well in the face of significant economic challenges. | |
"Unemployment is down, employment is up and Scotland's youth unemployment rate is the fourth lowest in the EU. This is welcome news. | |
"We will work to support employment and our priority remains developing the correct conditions for economic growth, including through taking forward our multi-billion pound infrastructure plan, and the Scottish Growth Scheme." | |
Mr Brown added that the Scottish government would continue to tackle issues around inactivity in the labour market. |
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