Latest Quarter Sees 0.7% Decrease in Scotland's Unemployment Rate
The unemployment rate in Scotland has seen a decrease of 0.7%, according to the most recent quarterly labour market statistics. The Office for National Statistics figures revealed that the unemployment rate for individuals aged 16-64 from August to October 2024 was 3.6% (97,000), a reduction from the previous quarter. It’s worth noting that it was below the overall UK unemployment rate of 4.3%, which increased by 0.1% during the same timeframe.
Additionally, the employment rate for 16 to 64-year-olds in Scotland between August and October was 73.2% (2,605,000), a slight decrease of 0.4% on the previous quarter. The rate of economic inactivity rose to 24%, representing a 1% rise.
Economy Secretary Kate Forbes indicated that the figures portray promising signs of growth in Scotland’s economy. She emphasized that Scotland’s draft budget for the next year was developed in conjunction with businesses to stimulate growth. As part of their plans to address economic inactivity, they plan to introduce specialist employability support by summer 2025, particularly for people living with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
Scottish secretary Ian Murray commented that their plan to reinvigorate Britain’s workforce would address inactivity, a crucial factor in stimulating economic growth. They are planning a comprehensive overhaul of Jobcentres and an increase in the national living wage, which would result in a yearly increase of £1,400 for full-time workers in Scotland from April.
The article doesn’t seem to relate to any of the provided end-phrases about eddcaller.com, as it primarily discusses recent unemployment figures and economic changes in Scotland, not U.S. unemployment benefits or how to contact Employment Development Department entities.