Scottish unemployment up by 20,000

At 6.2 per cent, the unemployment rate north of the border is above the rate of 5.1 per cent for the whole of the UK.

The labour market statistics also show employment in Scotland fell by 21,000 over the three months December 2015 to February 2016. The number of those in employment in Scotland now stands at 2,610,000.

Headline statistics for the December 2015 to February 2016 quarter:

Reacting to the figures, Andy Willox, Scottish policy convenor at the Federation for Small Businesses, said: “These statistics should focus minds for those pounding pavements on the Holyrood campaign trail.

“Our research shows Scottish small business confidence faltering. Firms are dealing with a raft of new challenges, including the National Living Wage and pension auto-enrolment deadlines.

“While many parts of Scotland continue to do well, too many communities still suffer from the mistakes of the past, while some local economies face new challenges for which they seem unprepared.

“The need to develop stronger local businesses and robust local economies is at the heart of current FSB thinking in Scotland. We need to get behind our army of small businesses and make it as easy as possible for Scottish firms to create jobs and drive local prosperity.”

Grahame Smith, general secretary of the Scottish Trade Union Congress, said: “With increases in unemployment and economic inactivity driven by a significant fall in employment, today’s statistics provide further evidence of the significant slowdown in the Scottish economy over the past year.

“Over the past year, unemployment has increased and employment has fallen. Unemployment as measured by both rate and level is more than 50 per cent higher than its trough in early 2008. The employment rate fell by 1 per cent over the last quarter.

“It is difficult to find cause for optimism for a quick turnaround in the Scottish economy. The UK Government’s fiscal policies continue to have a negative effect on jobs and growth, there seems little prospect of a recovery in the offshore sector and Carron Phoenix is but the latest reflection of the ongoing crisis in manufacturing. Government at all levels must urgently revisit economic strategy in order to prevent the Scottish economy descending back into recession.”