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| Unemployment total jumps 16,000 | Unemployment total jumps 16,000 |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Unemployment in Scotland has risen by 16,000 in the three months to January, the latest figures have shown. | Unemployment in Scotland has risen by 16,000 in the three months to January, the latest figures have shown. |
| The number of unemployed people now stands at 205,000 - some 67,000 more than in the same period last year. | The number of unemployed people now stands at 205,000 - some 67,000 more than in the same period last year. |
| However, the Scottish unemployment rate now stands at 7.6%, slightly lower than the UK rate of 7.8%. | However, the Scottish unemployment rate now stands at 7.6%, slightly lower than the UK rate of 7.8%. |
| The narrower "claimant count" measure - the number of adults claiming Jobseeker's Allowance - stood at 138,500 in February. | The narrower "claimant count" measure - the number of adults claiming Jobseeker's Allowance - stood at 138,500 in February. |
| That represented a drop of 600 since January, but an increase of 25,100 on February 2009. | That represented a drop of 600 since January, but an increase of 25,100 on February 2009. |
| Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said the figures suggested that there were "fragile signs of recovery" across Scotland. | |
| Stimulus measures | |
| They also underlined the "vital importance" of the Scottish government's economic recovery plan, he added. | |
| Mr Mather said: "A crucial part of that plan is a range of measures to support employment, and it is excellent news that this morning the first minister has announced the Scottish government has reached its target to deliver more than 18,500 modern apprenticeships. | |
| "We are absolutely committed to continuing this good work and delivering investment to reinvigorate the economy and help people get back to work. | |
| "That is why our budget invests in economic recovery and protects frontline services, despite Westminster imposing the first cut in the resources available to the Scottish government since devolution." | |
| Mr Mather said it was important the UK government continued with a package of stimulus measures in its Budget next week in order to help create and sustain jobs and support the economic recovery. | |
| Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy said: "This is the first fall in the claimant count for nearly two years, but these figures show again that the economic recovery is very fragile and that the recession has taken its toll on many families in Scotland. | |
| "More widely it is worrying that some trends are higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK." |