Scottish unemployment bucks UK trend Published duration 12 August 2015

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Unemployment in Scotland has fallen by 13,000 over the past quarter, according to official figures.

The Office for National Statistics said the unemployment rate now stood at 5.6% - the same as for the UK as a whole.

The figures also showed youth unemployment fell by 7,000 to reach 14%, the lowest since April-June 2008.

And youth employment grew by 20,000 to 363,000 - the highest since the same period a decade ago.

Employment fell overall by 11,000 over the quarter, to stand at 2,611,00, although the Scottish employment rate of 74.1% is higher than UK average of 73.4%.

UK unemployment in the April to June period was 1.85 million, up 25,000 from the previous quarter , according to the figures.

There were 24,000 more economically inactive people in Scotland- such as the sick and disabled, those in early retirement, family carers and jobless students - rising to 731,000.

Figures for the full year show that employment in Scotland rose by 28,000, unemployment fell by 19,000 and economic inactivity fell by 6,000 since June 2014.

Fair Work, Skills and Training Secretary Roseanna Cunningham welcomed the figures, which she said were "encouraging signs of an improving economic landscape in Scotland".

She added: "Our priority is to maintain that progress and tackle those areas where we need to see further improvement.

"For example, there was a slight fall in all-age employment and a small rise in economic inactivity - although we continue to outperform the rest of the UK in these measures."

Scotland Office Minister Andrew Dunlop said: "Today's figures show unemployment falling and wages continuing to rise well above inflation. This shows we are working to ensure everyone benefits from a growing economy as we build a country based on security and opportunity.

"We will continue to help businesses create jobs and support those who want to work hard and get on. The introduction of our National Living Wage will ensure work pays for everyone across the country."

Colin Borland, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "Falling joblessness is good news, but we need to get behind small business if we're going to create jobs for the 155,000 Scots still out of work."