Employment figures improve in Scotland

Scottish unemployment has fallen by 13,000, new figures show, bucking a trend across the UK.

The data, released by the Office for National Statistics, shows that between April and June 2015 the number of Scots out of work has fallen to 155,000. During the same period, the figure rose across the UK by 25,000 to 1.85 million unemployed.

Roseanna Cunningham, the Fair Work, Skills and Training Secretary said the signs were encouraging.

“Our priority is to maintain that progress and tackle those areas where we need to see further improvement. For example, there was a slight fall in all-age employment and a small rise in economic inactivity – although we continue to outperform the rest of the UK in these measures," she said.

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The Scottish Chambers of Commerce welcomed the news. Chief Executive Liz Cameron said the news reflected “increased optimism” from businesses.

“The priority for our governments now must be to ensure a supply of skilled workers for our growing businesses to recruit,” she said.

Colin Borland, head of external affairs for the Federation of Small Businesses Scotland, said: "Scotland’s army of small and medium sized enterprises sustain every second private sector job north of the border. Falling joblessness is good news, but we need to get behind small business if we’re going to create jobs for the 155,000 Scots still out of work."

He added: “We need to see an extra push to ensure more Scottish public sector spending delivers for the smallest local Scottish businesses. And we need to redouble our efforts to make sure firms can hire people with the right skills and attitude.”

While employment in Scotland rose by 28,000, compared to the first three months of the year, across the UK the overall figure has dropped by 63,000.

“This is now the second consecutive time we’ve reported fewer people in work on the quarter,” ONS statistician David Freeman said.

“While it’s still too early to conclude that the jobs market is levelling off, these figures certainly strengthen that possibility.”