Highest Scottish employment level on record
16 Apr 2014 04:13 PM
Employment levels
are at their highest since records began with 2,575,000 people over 16 now
employed in Scotland, according to labour market figures released today by the
Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The employment
level is now 13,000 above its pre-recession peak of 2,562,000 in
2008.
National
Statistics also published today by the Scottish Government showed Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 0.2 per cent over the fourth quarter of 2013 and
increased by 1.6 per cent during 2013, the fastest annual growth since
2007.
The highest
employment level record has been met by an increase in employment of 68,000
over the year, driven by an increase of 46,000 in the female employment level.
The female rate of employment in Scotland is now 1.8 percentage points above
the UK.
Scotland has again
outperformed the UK across all headline labour market indicators, with a lower
unemployment rate, higher employment rate and lower economic inactivity
rate.
Although the
Scottish unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage points over the quarter,
over the year it fell by 0.8 percentage points and now stands at 6.5 per cent
compared to 6.9 per cent in the UK as a whole.
For the 17th
consecutive month the claimant count decreased in Scotland with the number of
people claiming Jobseekers Allowance falling by 2,400 over the month to
March.
The latest labour
market figures were welcomed by the First Minister Alex Salmond during a visit
to Stornoway harbour, to mark the start of work supported by Scottish
Government investment of £9.6 million to enhance infrastructure in
preparation for the September arrival of a new £42 million ferry on the
Stornoway-Ullapool route.
He said:
“Today’s historic jobs figures show the Scottish Government’s
policy of investing in infrastructure to boost the economy is making
significant progress with employment levels at a record high. To put it in
perspective, there are 285,000 more people in employment today than there were
when the Scottish Parliament was established in 1999.
“Scotland is
outperforming the UK across employment, unemployment and inactivity rates which
goes to show even with the limited powers over the economy at our disposal we
are improving our country’s economic health.
“These
impressive figures come on the day we mark the start of work, supported by a
Scottish Government contribution of £9.6 million, to boost Stornoway
harbour’s infrastructure and help to improve access to Scotland’s
islands, employing around 25 people in an important local labour
market.
“Such
projects underline the strength of Scotland’s economy.”
The First Minister continued: “Everyone aged between 16 and 19 is
guaranteed an offer of a place in training or education through Opportunities
for All and just this week we revealed we will create thousands of additional
Modern Apprenticeship places, bringing our total target for MA’s to
30,000 every year by 2020 – double the level we inherited in
2007.
“This
commitment to equipping our young people with the skills that they need will be
further strengthened with the appointment of Angela Constance as Cabinet
Secretary for Training, Youth and Female Employment.”
Today’s GDP
figures highlighted that Scotland’s GDP posted positive growth in each
quarter during 2013, for the first calendar year since the beginning of 2008,
and has now experienced seven consecutive quarters of economic
growth.
Over the quarter,
the services sector grew by 0.6 per cent and output in the sector surpassed its
2007 peak. The production sector contracted by 0.7 per cent and construction
output declined by 1.0 per cent.
The quarter four
results for Scotland include the impact of the temporary shutdown at the
Grangemouth industrial complex. This affected the Refined Petroleum, Chemicals
and Pharmaceutical Products series which contracted by 10.8 per cent over the
quarter and reduced Scottish headline growth by 0.2 percentage points. Indirect
effects on supply chain industries mean the overall effect is likely to have
been even larger still.
Commenting on the
GDP figures, the First Minister said:
“These GDP
figures coupled with our labour market figures show the underlying strength in
the Scottish economic recovery. In spite of some short term volatility it is
clear that Scotland’s economy is continuing to make headway, but there is
no room for complacency.
“Last
year’s temporary shutdown at Grangemouth had a substantial effect on our
economy, but even with that there have been strong signs of recovery and 2013
saw the fastest annual growth since 2007. We expect to see a further increase
on these figures in the first quarter of 2014 figures which are due in
July.
“The GDP and
labour market statistics follow the results of Monday’s Bank of Scotland
PMI report which recorded rises in output and new business in Scotland in March
and revealed the private sector activity expanded for the 18th consecutive
month.
“Both the
labour market figures and GDP statistics paint a picture of recovery in
Scotland. However with the full fiscal and economic powers of independence, the
Scottish Government could do so much more to strengthen our economy and create
more jobs.”
Notes To
Editors
The ONS labour
market data will be available from: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Labour+Market
Scottish
Government GDP data will be available from:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/GDP2013Q4