It's great news that according to the Office for National Statistics, Scotland's employment rate has reached a new high. This is despite the latest figures showing a small increase in the number of people who are out of work.
This is a testament to the hard work of the Scottish Government, employers, and jobseekers in overcoming the challenges of the pandemic. As well as the efforts of the public to stay safe and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
From September to November 2022, the employment rate of people aged 16 to 64 was 76.1%, which is up from the 75.9% recorded over the three months from August to October. This is the highest figure since the labour force survey series began in 1992.
This news has been welcomed by the government, who have been working hard to support the UK’s economy throughout the pandemic. It is encouraging to see that more people are in employment despite the tough economic conditions and disruption caused by the pandemic.
According to ONS data, 2,725,000 Scots aged 16 and over were in work in the period September to November, with this total 8,000 higher than the previous quarter and up by 48,000 over the year. There were 92,000 Scots who were unemployed over September to November – a rise of 1,000 from the previous three months but 8,000 fewer than was recorded a year ago.
Employment minister Richard Lochhead said: “The employment rate in Scotland remains high despite the turbulent economic circumstances, including the continued impact of Brexit, high inflation, and the cost-of-living crisis. The record high employment rate for all 16- to 64-year-olds and the continued high employment rates for women are particularly welcome. The Scottish Government’s ambitious plans for Scotland’s economy set out in our National Strategy for Economic Transformation are built on ensuring everyone can thrive in a diverse and inclusive workforce.”
The Scottish Government’s updated Fair Work Action Plan, published in December, is a statement of the government’s commitment to fair work outcomes for everyone. Despite the current high employment rate, there are still labour shortages in certain sectors.
The Scottish Government is doing all it can to work with businesses and organisations to alleviate these shortages, however, the UK Government holds key powers over migration, visas and key parts of employment law, and the Scottish Government calls on UK ministers to establish a joint taskforce on labour market shortages.
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