Scotland’s employment rate is at a four-year high with new figures showing the country is outperforming the rest of the UK.
The trend was broadly reproduced across Angus, Tayside, Fife and Central Scotland, with the exception of Kirkcaldy where a rise in unemployment was recorded.
The Scottish Government said the employment rate was the highest it had been since 2009 and Scotland now has the highest employment rate and lowest unemployment rate of the UK’s four nations.
Scottish unemployment is 7.1% compared to the UK’s 7.8%, while the employment rate is 72.2% north of the border and 71.5% across the rest of the country.
The figures came as the Scottish Government announced a near £88 million investment in youth jobs, which it claims will support up to 10,000 people into work.
First Minister Alex Salmond said: “The Scottish Government, our agencies and employers across Scotland have set a clear course for recovery. We are working hard to get people back into work and to create opportunities for our young people.
“The Westminster government’s continued pursuit of austerity is the biggest risk to Scotland’s economic recovery. Without the tools of independence to do the job properly, Scotland risks having all the progress we have made undone.”
However, Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore said the rise in employment showed the Coalition Government’s policies were breeding success.
He said: “This shows the decisions we are taking to tackle the deficit and build a stronger and fairer economy are working.”
The new figures register the seventh consecutive month there has been a drop in the jobless total, with the number of people who are unemployed including those who are not eligible for benefits now 25,000 lower than the same period last year.
Scottish Labour’s employment spokesman Ken Macintosh said: “Contrary to SNP spin, the claimant count figures show no significant deviation from the UK figures either the claimant count fell by exactly the same in Scotland as it did in England and Wales and in fact Scotland’s claimant count remains higher than the UK average.”
Liz Cameron, chief executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: “It is the return of the real economy to growth that must be at the centre of government strategy at the moment.
“And as we approach the UK Comprehensive Spending Review with the debate over Scotland’s constitutional future in full swing, we would urge politicians of all parties to set out a clear plan to take advantage of the recent positive economic signs and help foster the return to strong growth that our businesses and our country so badly needs.”
On youth jobs, Mr Salmond said: “No government across these islands has ever shown such commitment to ensuring young people are able to build their skills, develop real job experience and find tangible employment as this administration.”