Scotland loses 15,000 workers in three months of lockdown

The number of workers in Scotland fell by 15,000 in the first three months of lockdown.

Around 11,000 of those who left their jobs between April and June are currently looking for work.

A total of 124,000 people aged 16-64 are now unemployed in Scotland – 4.5% of the workforce – according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Scotland shut down at the end of March in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Large and small companies across the country have announced job losses in recent weeks.

Department store Debenhams became the latest retail giant to announce cuts, when it said 2500 UK jobs would go.

A UK Government scheme which has helped pay wages while businesses are closed is due to end in October

The Scottish Government want it to be extended in a bid to save more jobs.

Business minister Jamie Hepburn said: “These statistics cover a full three months of lockdown measures before some businesses started to re-open, but still do not reflect the full impact of the pandemic on the labour market as the Job Retention Scheme is continuing to help support many people remain in employment.

“We continue to call on the UK Government to extend the Job Retention Scheme, particularly for those hardest-hit sectors, for example travel, tourism and hospitality, which face significant long-term challenges likely to remain when the scheme ends in October.”

The UK-wide employment rate is now 3.9%, with around 730,000 fewer people in work since lockdown began.