Scotland's unemployment rate falls

Scotland’s unemployment rate has dropped in the last quarter, according to the latest figures.

A new report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows the unemployment rate for people aged over 16 between January and March was 3.2 per cent, down 0.9 per cent on the previous quarter.

The employment rate for those aged 16 to 64 was 75.6 per cent, an increase of 1.4 per cent. Those not employed and not actively seeking work are considered ‘economically inactive’.

Across the UK, the employment rate increased by 0.1 percentage points on the quarter to 75.7 per cent.

However, the ONS report warned "there continued to be a mixed picture for the labour market” during the period, as UK wages fell1.2 per cent between January and March.

Scotland's employment minister Richard Lochhead said: "While we continue to face economic challenges, with the rising cost of living, the negative effects of Brexit and the economic impacts of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Scottish government remains committed to doing all we can to help our economy recover."