SCOTLAND’S unemployment rate has risen slightly to 4.1 per cent in the latest period, official figures show.

The jobless rate rose 0.3 percentage points from June to August 2017, up from 3.8 per cent in the previous three months but a decrease from 4.7 per cent in the same period last year.

The figures show that for all those aged 16 and over, unemployment rose 9000 to 113,000, while the number of people in work increased by 35,000.

For those aged between 16 and 64, unemployment rose by 6000 to 109,000, with the number in work up 40,000 and the employment rate hitting 75.3 per cent.

In the latest quarter, the overall UK unemployment rate was 4.3 per cent, with England also 4.3 per cent, Wales four per cent and Northern Ireland 4.7 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn said: “Youth unemployment rates continue to outperform the UK. This comes on top of us fulfilling our commitment to reduce youth unemployment by 40 per cent, four years ahead of schedule.”