Figures published this week by the Scottish Government show that between February and April 2024, Scotland’s unemployment rate estimate (16+ years) was 4.7%.

The employment rate estimate (16-64 years) was 73.1% and the inactivity rate estimate (16-64 years) was 23.2% in the same period.

Early seasonally adjusted estimates for May 2024 from HMRC Pay As You Earn Real Time Information indicate that median monthly pay for payrolled employees in Scotland was £2411, an increase of 5.8% compared with May 2023.

This is higher than the growth in median monthly pay for the UK over the same period (5.2%). Changes over time are based on median monthly pay estimates rounded to the nearest pound.

In May 2024, the claimant count was 108,100, an increase of 3000 (2.9%) over the month ut a decrease of 2400 (-2.2%) over the year.

The claimant count unemployment rate in May 2024 was 3.7%, compared with 4.3% for the UK as a whole.

Commenting on the latest ONS and HMRC labour market statistics, deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “Despite ongoing cost of living pressures Scotland’s labour market shows resilience, with data from HMRC showing 12,000 more payrolled employees in May 2024 compared with a year ago, while our claimant count rate was lower than the UK as a whole.

“The First Minister has been clear that driving economic growth is a key priority for the Scottish Government. That is why we are investing over £5 billion to grow the economy between 2024 and 2025.

“Ministers are committed to working with public and private partners - and constructively across parliament - to maximise the huge economic opportunities that lie ahead.”