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Scottish unemployment rises again Scottish unemployment rises again
(about 2 hours later)
Unemployment has continued to rise in Scotland with 187,000 now out of work - an increase of 75,000 on last year.Unemployment has continued to rise in Scotland with 187,000 now out of work - an increase of 75,000 on last year.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show a rise of 11,000 unemployed between May and July.Figures from the Office for National Statistics show a rise of 11,000 unemployed between May and July.
It represents an unemployment rate of 7% in Scotland, compared with a UK figure of 7.9%.It represents an unemployment rate of 7% in Scotland, compared with a UK figure of 7.9%.
The number claiming jobseeker's allowance also rose, to 132,900 in August - up 2,200 on the month before and 53,200 on the same month last year.The number claiming jobseeker's allowance also rose, to 132,900 in August - up 2,200 on the month before and 53,200 on the same month last year.
Economic activityEconomic activity
Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy said: "These latest figures show the true cost of the global economic conditions.Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy said: "These latest figures show the true cost of the global economic conditions.
"In the midst of all the talk of economic recovery, no one should lose sight of the fact the recession is still having a real impact on families, particularly those on modest and middle incomes.""In the midst of all the talk of economic recovery, no one should lose sight of the fact the recession is still having a real impact on families, particularly those on modest and middle incomes."
The Scottish Government's Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said Scotland continued to have higher employment, lower unemployment and higher rates of economic activity than the UK as a whole.The Scottish Government's Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said Scotland continued to have higher employment, lower unemployment and higher rates of economic activity than the UK as a whole.
He said: "We have accelerated major infrastructure investment, and it is crucial that we are able to continue this good work."He said: "We have accelerated major infrastructure investment, and it is crucial that we are able to continue this good work."
"Therefore, we are urging the chancellor to use his pre-Budget report to allow us to accelerate capital spending into 2010-11, just as we have done this year, and go on supporting thousands of jobs across Scotland.""Therefore, we are urging the chancellor to use his pre-Budget report to allow us to accelerate capital spending into 2010-11, just as we have done this year, and go on supporting thousands of jobs across Scotland."
Meanwhile, figures from the Scottish Government showed that public sector employment in Scotland fell by 4,200, compared with the same quarter in 2008. The banking crisis has brought a huge leap in the size of Scotland's public
They said the number in public organisations which were the responsibility of the UK Government, excluding public sector financial institutions, increased by 200 over the same period. sector, according to figures published today.
Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "With a recession and a cut to Scotland's budget, every part of the public sector, national and local, must deliver maximum value for the public purse. Meanwhile, other statistics showed the public sector now employs 614,700 people in Scotland - if staff in the state-rescued Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group are included.
"Our focus is on delivering high quality, frontline services for the end user and we are delivering on that vital objective, with a welcome rise in frontline NHS and police personnel." If these staff are excluded from the calculation, the figure falls to 572,200, a drop of about 4,200 on last year.
Most of the public sector workforce - 502,000 people - work for the Scottish Government and other devolved bodies and quangos (34,900), the NHS (161,400) and local government (274,200, excluding police and firefighters).
The rest - almost 70,000, excluding the rescued banks - work for UK public bodies such as the armed forces.
The Scottish Government highlighted figures which showed a fall of 4,400 over the year in the number of staff working in devolved organisations, and a rise of 200 in the number of staff working for UK public organisations excluding banks.