Employment rises in Scotland as UK government highlights necessity of UK union

RA Now

Unemployment in Scotland fell one percentage point below the average unemployment rate for the UK in the three months to December 2013, government figures show.

Just over 7% of the Scottish population, or 190,000 people, are out of work, a drop of 3,000 on the three months to October 2013, the Office for National Statistics said.

The labour market statistics also show employment in Scotland has increased by 9,000 over the three months October to December 2013. The number of those in employment in Scotland now stands at 2,556,000.

With the population just seven months from voting in the referendum on independence, Westminster hailed the growing jobs figures as a result of Scotland’s union with the UK.

“Together with the Bank of England is revising up its forecast for GDP growth in 2014 it is clear that being part of a large UK single market and an influential EU member benefits Scotland,” said Scottish secretary Alistair Carmichael.

“With business confidence continuing to grow, more jobs are being created, and inflation is now below the 2% government target.”

Last week Chancellor George Osborne ruled out a currency union with an independent Scotland, and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said it would be “extremely difficult” for Scotland to join the EU if it was not part of the UK.

Carmichael criticised Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond, who is leading the campaign for independence.

“Meanwhile the First Minister is the man without a plan on the vital issue of currency. Jobs and growth are closely linked to currency. If the First Minister cannot even tell us what currency we would have then people cannot take him seriously.”