The number of Scots in work has increased by 75,000 over the last year, figures have revealed.
Official statistics show that over the period July to September a total of 2,547,000 were in employment, an increase of 16,000 on the previous quarter.
The employment rate in Scotland has now risen for 10 months in a row, with 72.8% of the population in work, compared to 71.8% in the UK as a whole.
But the figures also revealed there had been a small increase in unemployment. The number of people out of work, including those not eligible for benefits, was 199,000 in July to September up by 1,000 on the previous quarter.
The unemployment total is still 20,000 less than the same period in 2012.
The number of people out of work and claiming jobseeker’s allowance also fell, decreasing by 2,800 between September and October to stand at 118,900 with this new total 21,400 lower than last October.
The Scottish unemployment rate continues to be below that for the UK.
