Unemployment in Scotland fell by nearly one percentage point over the last quarter to 4.6%, the lowest rate of unemployment since 2008, according to the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Scottish unemployment fell by 0.8 percentage points in the June to August quarter to 4.6% — below the 4.9% figure for the UK as a whole.

Unemployment in Scotland fell by 25,000 over the quarter to reach 127,000.

Employment rates decreased by 0.1 percentage point — about 8,000 — over the quarter to 74.0% with 2,618,000 people in employment.

The Scottish Government said Scotland continues to outperform the UK on female employment, unemployment and inactivity rates.

It said Scotland is also outperforming the UK on youth unemployment with the rate falling 5.0 percentage points over the year to 12.2%.

The Scottish Government’s Minister for Employability and Training Jamie Hepburn said: “Despite continuing economic concerns following the EU referendum result, these latest statistics show our policies and investment are helping to reduce unemployment …

“While we are doing all we can to boost our economy it’s clear that we need to protect Scotland’s relationship with the EU so we can build on these positive economic trends, rather than put this progress and Scottish jobs under threat.”

The UK Government’s Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell, said: “I am pleased to see unemployment falling again in Scotland, and it is now at its lowest level since 2008.

“But it is worrying that employment is down and more people are dropping out of the labour market in Scotland when the rest of the UK is seeing employment up.

“The levers to shape the Scottish economy are there for the Scottish government to pull.

“They need to start focusing on the day job and how they can use their new powers to support the Scottish economy.

“Because these are not just statistics – behind the fall in employment and rise in economic inactivity are thousands of people in Scotland who deserve the security and opportunity that a job brings.”