Unemployment rate in Scotland fell 0.7% in latest quarter

The unemployment rate in Scotland has fallen by 0.7%, according to the latest quarterly labour market statistics.

Office for National Statistics figures show the unemployment rate for people aged 16-64 in August to October 2024 stood at 3.6% (97,000), down 0.7% on the previous quarter.

This was below the overall UK unemployment rate of 4.3%, which rose by 0.1% during the same period.

The employment rate for 16 to 64-year-olds in Scotland between August and October was 73.2% (2,605,000), a 0.4% fall on the previous quarter.

The economic inactivity rate was at 24%, a 1% increase.

Economic inactivity is defined as people not in employment who have not been seeking work within the past four weeks and/or are unable to start work within the next two weeks.

Economy secretary Kate Forbes said: “There are encouraging signs of growth in Scotland’s economy with unemployment appearing to fall, payrolled employment at near record levels and higher median monthly pay than the rest of the UK.

“Our draft Budget for next year was developed in partnership with businesses to accelerate growth.

“It also sets out £90 million for Scotland’s devolved employability services to help more people into work.

“This includes the introduction of specialist employability support by summer 2025 to ensure that enhanced services are in place for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions as part of our plans to tackle economic inactivity.”

Scottish secretary Ian Murray added: “Everyone deserves the security and opportunity of a well-paid job.

“Our plan to get Britain working will tackle inactivity, which is vital to unlocking economic growth.

“We’re giving our Jobcentres the biggest overhaul in a generation and we’re making work pay by increasing the national living wage which will mean an increase of £1,400 a year from April for hundreds of thousands of full-time workers in Scotland.

“We are delivering our plan for change with investment and reform to deliver growth, put more money in people’s pockets and to rebuild Britain.”