16 Aug 2006
AUGUST LABOUR MARKET STATISTICS FOR SCOTLAND
The latest data for the three months to June show there were 3,000 more people unemployed in Scotland compared to the previous quarter, according to the internationally comparable ILO measure. This small rise leaves the Scottish unemployment level slightly below that recorded at the same point in 2005. The unemployment rate of 5.5 per cent is equal to that of the UK and remains low by historical standards.
The figures also indicate that there were around 10,000 fewer people in work compared to the previous quarter. However, the employment level of 2.454 million remains higher than at the same point last year and is historically high. At 74.8 per cent, the Scottish employment rate continues to outperform the UK average and almost all other countries within the European Union.
The number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) rose marginally in the month to July 2006, to 89,000. This represented an increase of 4,100 over the year and means the claimant count rate stayed slightly above the thirty year historical low at 3.3 per cent.
Commenting on the figures, Scotland Office Minister David Cairns said:
"It is disappointing that there appears to have been a small increase in unemployment in recent months but it is important to keep this in context. The number of people out of work has been cut by around a third since 1997 and there are nearly 200,000 more people in work too.
"Clearly we must not be complacent. The roll out of our Pathways to Work program to more areas of Scotland will help us to give many more people the individual help they need - firstly to look for work, and then to get over the barriers that stop them from taking it up."
Latest Data for Scotland
Employment
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) indicates that the number of people in employment in Scotland in April - June 2006 was 2,454,000. Employment was 10,000 lower compared with the previous three months but 6,000 higher compared to the same period last year. The employment rate amongst those of working age was down 0.5 percentage points over the quarter and down 0.1 percentage points over the year, to 74.8 per cent. In international terms, the Scottish employment rate remains above the UK average and the corresponding rate for the majority of other EU countries.
Unemployment
ILO unemployment in Scotland rose by 3,000 over the quarter to April - June 2006 to 142,000. However, the level was 1,000 lower compared to the same quarter last year. The unemployment rate is 5.5 per cent, up by 0.1 percentage points over the quarter and unchanged over the year.
Claimant Count Unemployment
The claimant count in Scotland, based on the seasonally adjusted number of people claiming Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA), rose by 100 in the month to July to 89,000. The level was also 4,100 higher than in July 2005. The claimant count rate was unchanged over the month but has increased by 0.2 percentage points over the year.
Economic Activity
The number of economically active (defined as those in employment or ILO unemployed, seasonally adjusted) in Scotland in the April - June 2006 quarter was 2,596,000. This was 6,000 lower than the previous quarter, but 5,000 higher than at the same time in 2005. Among those aged 16-59/64, the economic activity rate was 79.3 per cent - down 0.3 percentage points on the previous quarter, and down 0.2 percentage points for the year.
NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS
1. The internationally comparable International Labour Organisation (ILO) measure of unemployment is the headline figure published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for UK regions/countries.
2. The ILO measure of unemployment, which is derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), is published 12 times a year for an average of the three preceding consecutive months. ONS recommend that seasonally adjusted data should be compared with the previous non-overlapping three-month period: i.e. April-June data should be compared with January-March data. Quarter to quarter changes at country/regional level are especially subject to sampling variability and should be interpreted in the context of changes over several quarters.
3. The count of those claiming unemployment-related benefits continues to provide a full and timely range of data at sub-Scotland level for local authorities, Travel to Work Areas (TTWAs) and parliamentary constituencies. The claimant count is also the main source of information on unemployment by age and duration. Data on the claimant count in the New Deal age and duration groups is available from 1985.
4. Economic activity is a measure of those who are in employment plus those who are unemployed but are available to enter the labour market (ILO unemployed). Conversely, the economically inactive are those people who are not in employment, but do not fulfil all the ILO criteria to be classified as unemployed. The most common reasons given for inactivity are being a student, being retired, looking after a family or home and being long-term sick or disabled.
We have included a link to a PDF file which can be downloaded from the Office of National Statistics website at: