Scots unemployment remains at record low 3.2%

The estimated unemployment rate in Scotland was 3.2% in the February to April 2022 quarter, down 0.5 percentage points since December 2019-February 2020 and down 0.6 percentage points over the quarter, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.

The UK’s unemployment rate was UK 3.8 %.

The estimated employment rate — the proportion of people aged 16-64 in work — in Scotland was 75.5%, up 0.2 percentage points since December 2019-February 2020 and up 1 percentage points over the quarter.

Scotland’s employment rate was slightly below the UK rate of 75.6%.

Prof Mairi Spowage of Strathclyde University’s Fraser of Allander Institute said: “This what what we would call full employment.

“Basically, everyone who is wanting a job can find one, but what we are hearing from employers is that they are just having more and more difficulty finding staff.”

The UK government’s Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “With more Scottish workers on the payroll than before the pandemic and unemployment at historically low levels, today’s figures show a strong Scottish labour market.”

The Scottish government’s Employment Minister Richard Lochhead said: “While today’s figures show a strong recovery in Scotland’s labour market, we continue to face economic challenges with the rising cost of living, the continued impact of Brexit, and recovery from the effects of the pandemic and the economic consequences of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

“The Scottish government is firmly focused on delivering the ambitious National Strategy for Economic Transformation, which will help us build an economy of secure, sustainable and satisfying jobs.”