Scots employment rate at record 76.6%, ahead of UK

Scotland’s employment rate reached a record high between October and December of 2022, according to the  latest statistics published published by the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The employment rate — the proportion of people aged 16 to 64 in work — in Scotland was 76.6%, up 1.2 percentage points since December 2019 to February 2020 (pre-pandemic) and up 1.3 percentage points over the quarter.

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

The ONS estimated the unemployment rate (16 and over) in Scotland was 3.3%, down 0.5 percentage points since December 2019 to February 2020 (pre- pandemic) and down 0.2 percentage points over the quarter.

Scotland’s unemployment rate was below the UK rate of 3.7%.

Scotland’s estimated economic inactivity rate  — the proportion of people aged 16 to 64 years who were not working and not seeking or available to work — was 20.8%, down 0.8 percentage points since December 2019 to February 2020 (pre-pandemic) and down 1.0 percentage point over the quarter.

Scotland’s economic inactivity rate was below the UK rate of 21.4%.