University of Strathclyde

11 June, 2019

For immediate use:

Scotland's record employment rate largely driven by increase in working women

 The Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland's leading independent economic research institute, has commented on the latest labour market statistics published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Following publication of the statistics, Dr Stuart McIntyre of the Fraser of Allander Institute said:

"Scotland's headline labour market numbers continue to impress. The employment rate has hit a new record high of 75.9%, driven in large part by recent increases in employment among working age women. The female employment rate is now at a new record high of 72.7%. Meanwhile, overall unemployment remains very low by historic standards at 3.3%, with inactivity also falling over the three month period.

"The fact that today's data suggest that wage growth in the UK as a whole over the past year was a faster than expected at 3.4%, and by 1.5% in real terms should hopefully be an early signal that wage growth for workers in Scotland might also be picking up a little."
 
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 Notes for Editor:  For more information please contact Lynn McPherson at the University of Strathclyde. E. lynn.mcpherson100@strath.ac.uk T. 0141 548 4941