Scotland’s employment rate increased to 74.8% in the third quarter of 2015 — outperforming the UK — and the Scottish employment level of 2.636 million was the highest on record, the Scottish Government said.
The Scottish Government, citing statistics from the UK’s Office for National Statistics, said Scotland’s unemployment level fell 5,000 to 162,000 over the same period and now stands at 5.8 per cent.
Youth employment in Scotland was at its highest October to December level and rate since 2006.
“This month’s figures bring very positive news for Scotland’s jobs market,” said Roseanna Cunningham, cabinet secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training.
“While some volatility remains, the highest level of people in employment since records began demonstrates that we are on the right track with continued improvement in the latest quarter.
“Rising employment and falling unemployment are very welcome and an inactivity rate of 20.5 per cent is the lowest on record and the lowest out of the four UK nations.
“Our youth employment figures continue to be strong, out-performing the UK statistics, showing we are making progress with our commitment to better prepare young people for the jobs market.
“However, a number of significant challenges remain beneath these encouraging figures, such as the continuing low price of oil and the effect this is having on the industry and its supply chain …
“While the Scottish economy is feeling the effects of global economic conditions, we remain resilient and will continue to use every power at our disposal, including improved employability services from 2017, to ensure unnecessary barriers to the jobs market become a thing of the past.”