Scottish unemployment up by 4,000

Scotland's jobless rate was below the UK average

The number of people unemployed in Scotland rose to 194,000 in the last quarter, 67,000 more than last year.

The Office for National Statistics figures for the three months to September showed the Scottish jobless rate stood at 7.2%.

That figure was below the UK average of 7.8%.

Other data showed the number of people out of work and claiming jobseeker's allowance went up by 2,200 in October to a total of 134,800.

Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy said the figures were a real blow for those who had lost their jobs.

He added: "While much of the talk is about the recession coming to an end, it has just started for some families who have lost their jobs."

However Mr Murphy insisted that UK government measures were having a critical impact in supporting people during the downturn.

The Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said the Scottish government's recovery plan was supporting 15,000 jobs and helping those who had lost jobs back into work.

He said: "We are urging the chancellor to use his pre-Budget report to let us build on the positive results of accelerating capital spending into this year."

Youth unemployment

Today's figures showed a slight fall in the past two months in the number of young people out of work in Scotland.

A total of 37,300 people aged between 18 and 24 were claiming job seekers allowance in October, around 600 fewer than in the previous month and 4,500 fewer than in August.

However compared to October last year, the number of 18-24 year-olds on job seekers allowance has increased by over 50%.

The proportion of young people unemployed for more than a year also continued to rise.

Out of the October total, the number of young people who had been claiming the allowance for more than a year stood at 800, compared with 700 in September and 600 in August.