Scotland’s unemployment rate falls by 1.1%, latest data shows

Scotland’s unemployment rate fell by 1.1% in the third quarter of 2024, the latest figures show.

The ONS labour market statistics for the July to September period show the unemployment rate was at 3.3%.

The economic inactivity rate for those between 16 and 64 was 23.7%, up by 0.6% from the previous quarter.

The employment rate stood at 73.7%.

Separate statistics showed that for the year leading up to October 2024, median monthly pay for payrolled employees in Scotland increased by 6.2% to £2,466.

This was lower than the median growth rate for the UK overall, which stood at 7%.

In October 2024, the claimant count in Scotland was 114,800, an increase of 500 (0.5%) over the month and an increase of 6,600 (6.1%) over the year.

Commenting on the figures, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “Getting people into work is key to delivering economic growth and our Get Britain Working white paper will tackle inactivity in the labour market head-on through measures including an overhaul of our Jobcentres.

“We’re making work pay by increasing the National Living Wage in April – delivering a pay rise of £1,400 a year for hundreds of thousands of full-time workers in Scotland.

“We’re also banning exploitative zero-hour contracts as part of the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation through our Employment Rights Bill to deliver better job security for those in work.”

SNP MSP Stuart McMillan said: “The best way to reduce poverty, build prosperity and improve Scotland’s public services is to ensure that everyone living in Scotland has access to a secure and well paying job.

“These latest figures show that actions taken by the SNP Government to support businesses, like the small business bonus, are having a significant impact on the number of well-paid jobs being created across the country and driving down unemployment.

“Annual wages increasing by an average of £2,466 will also make a real and tangible difference on household incomes, ensuring Scots are able to support their families despite economic concerns driven by the actions of Westminster.”