Scottish jobless rate increases

The unemployment rate in Scotland is 8.5% which is higher than the UK rate

Unemployment in Scotland increased by 6,000, to 229,000, between July and September, according to official statistics.

This represented 8.5% of the workforce - higher than the UK average unemployment rate of 7.7%.

The number of people out of work and claiming benefit totalled 135,200 in October - a rise of 500.

In the UK as a whole, unemployment fell by 9,000 in the three months to September, to 2.45 million.

The labour market statistics also showed employment in Scotland increased by 21,000 over the three months from July to September.

The number of people in work in Scotland now stands at 2,465,000.

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said: "The Spending Review set out the government's plan on how to tackle the deficit in order to secure growth, and provide the confidence businesses and individuals need to invest in long-­lasting and sustainable jobs."

He added: "I take some encouragement that more people in Scotland went into employment than into unemployment.

"However, there is no room for complacency, and this government will continue to set the conditions to foster sustainable and balanced economic growth and ensuring that work pays."

Scottish Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said Scotland's recovery remaied fragile.

He said economic recovery was being put at risk by deep cuts imposed on Scotland by the UK government.

Mr Mather said: "Although the rate of increase in unemployment has eased, these figures demonstrate that the UK government is wrong to threaten jobs and the recovery we are building in Scotland by imposing massive cuts of £1.3bn next year - including an £800m cut to Scotland's capital budget."