Achi news desk-
This is an increase of 11,000 people – 0.5 percentage points – since the previous quarter.
The UK employment rate in the same period was 74.5% but this was down 0.5 percentage points on the previous quarter.
A total of 111,000 people in Scotland were out of work in the three months ending February, giving an unemployment rate of 4.0%, down 11,000 from September to November 2023.
READ MORE: Scotland’s unemployment rate at 3.2 per cent in the year to June
More than a fifth of people of working age in Scotland – 777,000 – were classified as economically inactive between December and February, giving an economic inactivity rate of 22.6%, a marginal drop of 0.2 percentage points since the previous three months.
Economy Well-being Secretary Mairi McAllan said: “The increase of 12,000 in the number of employed workers over the year to March 2024 in Scotland is to be welcomed.
“It is also encouraging to note that the median monthly wage for payroll workers has increased faster over the year in Scotland than in the UK as a whole – at 6.3% compared to 5.6%.
“However, the UK economy faces ongoing challenges, including inflationary pressures and the lingering effects of Brexit.
READ MORE: Cautious optimism amid easing labor market pressures
“The Scottish Government remains committed to using limited devolution powers to support more people into work through employability and skills support – and our upcoming Green Industrial Strategy will support businesses and investors to realize the opportunities economic that defines the period of global change to the net network. zero and create good paying green jobs here.”
Ms McAllan added that independence would enable Scotland to “boost its workforce and address recruitment challenges such as those currently facing the construction sector”.
