There has been a rise in Scotland's unemployment total

Figures from the International Labour Office show the unemployment figure rose to 142,000 or 5.5%.

The figures also indicate that there were about 10,000 fewer people in work compared to the previous quarter.

Scotland Office Minister David Cairns said the increase in unemployment was "disappointing" but said it had been cut by a third since 1997.

The employment level in Scotland of 2.454 million remains higher than at the same point last year, with an employment rate of 74.8%.

About 50,000 lone parents in Scotland have found work through the New Deal, statistics show.

'Work barriers'

Figures released by the Scotland Office also show 7,990 people aged over 50 have re-joined the labour market since April 2003.

The statistics also show 30,260 people aged 25 or over have found work as have 78,790 of 18-24 year olds.

Mr Cairns said: "It is disappointing that there appears to have been a small increase in unemployment in recent months but it is important to keep this in context.

"The number of people out of work has been cut by around a third since 1997 and there are nearly 200,000 more people in work too. Clearly we must not be complacent.

"The roll out of our Pathways to Work program to more areas of Scotland will help us to give many more people the individual help they need - firstly to look for work, and then to get over the barriers that stop them from taking it up."