Commenting on the latest publication of labour market statistics,
which show Scotland’s payrolled employees as the highest on
record, Wellbeing Economy Secretary said:
“It’s welcome that the latest HMRC early estimates show the
highest number of payrolled employees in Scotland since the
series began.
“ONS adjusted experimental estimates show that the employment,
unemployment and economic inactivity rates for Scotland for July
to September 2023 are relatively unchanged over the quarter.
“In the face of ongoing challenges to the labour market, such as
Brexit, the Scottish Government is committed to using its limited
powers to support more people into work through employability and
skills support.
“We have committed to expanding Scotland’s provision of fully
funded childcare, which is already the most generous childcare
package in the UK, which can support more parents, and those with
caring responsibilities, into work.
“The Scottish Government is also developing a lifetime skills
offer for adults and our apprenticeship programme is enabling
employers to invest in their work force and provide greater
opportunities to those at the start of their careers. This will
sit alongside a Green Industrial Strategy which will help
businesses and investors to realise the enormous economic
opportunities of the global transition to net zero and create
good, well-paid green jobs across Scotland.
“However with industries such as hospitality and agriculture
still facing enormous recruitment challenges, an urgent
reassessment of UK Government immigration policy is needed to
increase access to the international labour market that Scotland
needs for our economy to prosper.
“With full powers over migration, Scotland could boost its
workforce and tackle recruitment challenges, many of which have
been caused by the end of free movement and the Brexit imposed on
Scotland by the UK Government.”
Background
Separate HMRC early estimates show 2.45 million payrolled
employees in Scotland in October 2023, the highest since the
series began in July 2014, and 23,000 more than in October 2022.
Due to the increased uncertainty around the ONS Labour Force
Survey (LFS) estimates, ONS have published an alternative
experimental series of estimates of employment, unemployment and
economic inactivity by region.
Estimates for May-Jul 2023 onwards have been adjusted using
administrative data growth rates. These estimates are classed as
official statistics in development.
For July to September 2023, Scotland’s adjusted experimental
unemployment rate estimate (16+ years) was 3.9% in July to
September 2023
The adjusted experimental employment rate estimate (16-64 years)
was 74.3% and the estimated inactivity rate (16-64 years) was
22.7% in the same period.
Labour Market Trends: November
2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Labour market overview, UK -
Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
