SCOTLAND’S employment rate has fallen slightly, down to just more than 74%.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that from November last year to January this year, employment rates dropped to 74.3% – down 0.6% compared with the previous quarter (August to October).
This has brought Scotland’s employment below the UK rate of 75%.
The latest Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimated that from November last year to January this year, Scotland’s unemployment rate decreased slightly over the quarter by 0.1%,
to 4.1%.
Scotland’s unemployment rate was below the UK rate of 5%.
Business Minister Jamie Hepburn said: “For November to January 2021, Scotland’s employment rate estimate fell over the quarter to 74.3% and the unemployment rate estimate fell slightly over the quarter to 4.1%.
“Separate HMRC early estimates for February 2021, also published this morning, show there were 2,331,000 pay-rolled employees in Scotland, 65,000 lower than a year ago.
“These figures reflect some of the challenges faced in Scotland’s labour market to date, but they do not reflect the full impact of coronavirus or the outlook for employment as the Job Retention Scheme continues to help support jobs.
“It is crucial the UK Government keep this scheme in place for as long as it is needed.”
Dr Stuart McIntyre, head of research at the Fraser of Allander Institute, said: “The Scottish labour market remains in a state of suspended animation – certainly in comparison to the scale of the economic shock represented by the pandemic – with little change in the headline measures of employment and unemployment over the year to the end of February.
“A key reason for this is the furlough support scheme remaining in place; at the end of January over 360,000 jobs remained on furlough in Scotland.
“Rapid progress in the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine may mean that we are nearing the final phase of the public health campaign, but be in no doubt that we are only approaching the opening phase of the economic recovery.”
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