SCOTLAND’S unemployment rate fell by 1.1% in the third quarter of 2024, new figures have shown ...

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) labour market statistics for the July to September period show the unemployment rate was at 3.3%, while the employment rate stood at 73.7%.

Meanwhile, in the UK as a whole, the ONS said the rate of unemployment rose to 4.3% in the three months to September, up from 4% in the previous three months.

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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 £2466.

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

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

In October, the claimant count in Scotland was 114,800, an increase of 500 (0.5%) over the month and an increase of 6600 (6.1%) over the year.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes (above) welcomed the latest figures, as she said that growing the economy is "centre stage" for the Scottish Government.

She said: “Despite low growth across the UK, Scotland’s economy is proving resilient with GDP per person rising over the last two quarters and payrolled employees at close to record levels. 

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“Growing the economy is centre stage for this Government as it enables us to deliver on our priorities of eradicating child poverty, tackling climate change and improving public services. 

“Our Green Industrial Strategy and the Scottish National Investment Bank aims to leverage Scotland’s renewable potential to secure growth and investment as part of the transition to net zero.”