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| Unemployment in Scotland down by 15,000 | Unemployment in Scotland down by 15,000 |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Unemployment in Scotland fell by 15,000 to 152,000 in the period between March and May, according to official figures. | Unemployment in Scotland fell by 15,000 to 152,000 in the period between March and May, according to official figures. |
| The level was down by 39,000 compared to the same quarter last year. | |
| The Scottish unemployment rate is now 5.5%, just below the rate of 5.6% for the whole of the UK. | |
| The labour market statistics also showed employment in Scotland increased by 1,000 to 2,616,000 over the same three months. | The labour market statistics also showed employment in Scotland increased by 1,000 to 2,616,000 over the same three months. |
| This represented a rise of 40,000 compared to the same period in 2014, with the total number of people in employment now standing at 2,616,000. | This represented a rise of 40,000 compared to the same period in 2014, with the total number of people in employment now standing at 2,616,000. |
| The Scottish employment rate of 74.3% was above the UK average of 73.3%. | The Scottish employment rate of 74.3% was above the UK average of 73.3%. |
| The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) fell by 1,700 from May to 74,600 in June 2015. The level was down by 21,700 on June 2014. | The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) fell by 1,700 from May to 74,600 in June 2015. The level was down by 21,700 on June 2014. |
| 'Confidence to invest' | 'Confidence to invest' |
| The claimant count rate remained unchanged over the month at 2.7%, and down 0.8% over the year. | The claimant count rate remained unchanged over the month at 2.7%, and down 0.8% over the year. |
| Unemployment rose by 15,000 across the UK as a whole - the first rise in two years. | Unemployment rose by 15,000 across the UK as a whole - the first rise in two years. |
| The Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell, said the employment figures confirmed the decisions the UK government were taking were "creating a better, more prosperous future for the whole of the country". | The Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell, said the employment figures confirmed the decisions the UK government were taking were "creating a better, more prosperous future for the whole of the country". |
| He added: "Last week's Budget rewards work, backs aspiration, ensures fairness to taxpayers and gives businesses confidence to invest, to grow and to hire in the months and years ahead. | He added: "Last week's Budget rewards work, backs aspiration, ensures fairness to taxpayers and gives businesses confidence to invest, to grow and to hire in the months and years ahead. |
| "The National Living Wage is an essential part of our move to a higher wage, lower tax, lower welfare society. | "The National Living Wage is an essential part of our move to a higher wage, lower tax, lower welfare society. |
| "Rising to over £9 an hour by 2020, this will outstrip the first minister's own ambition to have a national minimum wage of £8.70 an hour by 2020." | "Rising to over £9 an hour by 2020, this will outstrip the first minister's own ambition to have a national minimum wage of £8.70 an hour by 2020." |
| 'Growing economy' | 'Growing economy' |
| The Scottish government's minister for youth and women's employment, Annabelle Ewing, highlighted separate figures which showed Scotland's economy grew by 0.6% in the first three months of this year - the same growth rate as the last three months of 2014 and slightly above the UK growth rate of 0.4 per cent over the same period. | The Scottish government's minister for youth and women's employment, Annabelle Ewing, highlighted separate figures which showed Scotland's economy grew by 0.6% in the first three months of this year - the same growth rate as the last three months of 2014 and slightly above the UK growth rate of 0.4 per cent over the same period. |
| She said: "These figures show a growing economy and falling unemployment - both extremely encouraging indicators and signs that the economic picture in Scotland is continuing to improve. | She said: "These figures show a growing economy and falling unemployment - both extremely encouraging indicators and signs that the economic picture in Scotland is continuing to improve. |
| "Indeed, Scotland was the only country of the UK where unemployment actually fell over the quarter. | "Indeed, Scotland was the only country of the UK where unemployment actually fell over the quarter. |
| "The 20,000 fall over the year in youth unemployment also means 20,000 more young people are now benefitting from the rewards and opportunities of work - something we are determined to improve on even further." | "The 20,000 fall over the year in youth unemployment also means 20,000 more young people are now benefitting from the rewards and opportunities of work - something we are determined to improve on even further." |