The Scottish unemployment rate has fallen to 4.7% — the same as the rate for the whole of the UK, according to new data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Unemployment in Scotland fell by 16,000 in the period November to January 2016 — and is down 42,000 over the year — and now stands at 129,000, the ONS said.

The labour market statistics also show that employment in Scotland increased by 16,000 over the three months to January 2016.

The number of people in employment in Scotland now stands at 2,608,000.

The Scots employment rate increased to 73.7%, just below the UK average of 74.6%.

In February 2017, the number of people out of work in Scotland and claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance was 48,000 and the claimant count, including Universal Credit, was 75,000.