Commenting on the news that unemployment in Scotland fell by 13,000 in the three months to June, Liz Cameron, Director and Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:

“It is good news that unemployment in Scotland has fallen again, with our overall unemployment rate of 5.6% matching that of the UK as a whole. This news underlines the increased optimism that we are picking up from businesses across Scotland.

“However as unemployment falls, the potential impact of skills shortages rises. As business picks up, demand for skilled workers increases and with unemployment at low levels, this makes suitably skilled workers more difficult to find. The priority for our governments now must be to ensure a supply of skilled workers for our growing businesses to recruit.

“The Scottish Government must focus efforts on delivering the right skills through education and training, including upskilling those who are currently unemployed and do not have the skills that businesses are looking for; the UK Government must enable access to skills from overseas workers, including those who are educated and trained in Scotland’s universities; and businesses must make best use of available skilled individuals, including the disabled and those requiring more flexible working patterns.

“A successful economy throws up its own challenges and matching businesses and skills must be the priority for the coming years.”