 The number of people in work has risen |
The number of people unemployed in Scotland has fallen in the past three months, according to new figures. Official figures show a drop of 3,000 between February and April, compared with the previous three months.
The jobless level was down 9,000 compared to the same period last year at 144,000.
The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance rose by 400 between April and May to 86,900. This was down 5,800 on May 2004.
Scotland Office Minister David Cairns said: "Unemployment levels are continuing to fall and within the European Union, only Denmark has a higher employment rate than Scotland."
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) indicates that the number of people in employment in Scotland in February to April 2005 was 2,441,000.
Employment was down by 3,000 compared with the previous three months but increased by 23,000 compared to the same period in 2004.
SNP criticism
Jim Mather, enterprise spokesman for the Scottish National Party, said one-fifth of the working age population were on benefits and that there had been a steady rise in the number of people in temporary and second jobs.
Mr Mather added: "Yet again, at 5.6%, Scotland has the highest unemployment in the UK.
"But even these figures mislead the people of Scotland and hide the truth about Scotland's shocking unemployment rate as they do not include the economically inactive."
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