Ann Frances Cooney, an employment law partner at DWF leading the Scottish employment law practice, comments on today’s Labour Market Trends. She said:

“The estimated unemployment rate in Scotland was 4.3%, down 0.1% over the quarter April to June 2021.  By way of comparison Scotland’s unemployment rate was below the UK rate of 4.7%.  The estimated employment rate in Scotland was 74.2%, a reduction of 0.1% over the quarter.  Scotland’s employment rate was below the UK rate of 75.1%.  The figures demonstrate a relatively robust labour market.

“We can expect the labour market figures to continue to steady and improve in Scotland with almost 3.5 million people fully vaccinated, the removal of nearly all restrictions and a relaxation of the isolation rules.

“With the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme drawing to a close at the end of September 2021, it is hoped that the opening up of the country will provide sufficient economic prosperity to reduce the need for redundancies when the government support is withdrawn.”