Scotland’s unemployment rate has decreased, contrasting with a rise in the UK, highlighting a positive trend for the Scottish job market
Edinburgh: Recent data from the Office for National Statistics shows that Scotland’s unemployment rate for those aged 16 and over is at 3.8%. This is a slight drop from the previous quarter.
In contrast, the UK’s overall unemployment rate has risen to 4.4%. It’s interesting to see Scotland consistently outperforming the UK in jobless rates throughout 2024.
According to the figures, around 105,000 people in Scotland were out of work during the September to November period last year. On the bright side, the employment rate for those aged 16 to 64 is up to 74.1%.
That means about 2.6 million people in Scotland were employed during that time. However, the Scottish Government noted a slight dip in payrolled employees in December 2024 compared to the previous month.
Kate Forbes, the Deputy First Minister, pointed out that despite economic challenges, Scotland’s labor market remains resilient. She mentioned that payrolled employment is still near record levels.
Forbes also highlighted the need for a tailored migration policy to support Scotland’s workforce and mentioned a commitment to getting more people into jobs through a budget that includes significant funding for employability services.
