The number of people out of work in Scotland rose by 19,000 over three months, according to official figures today.
The increase between September and November last year takes the unemployed total to 231,000.
The labour market statistics put the Scottish unemployment rate at 8.6% - higher than the UK average of 8.4%.
At the same time, employment figures dropped by 8,000 to about 2,467,000.
In December last year the number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) was 140,900 - a fall of 1,400 over the month and the fourth consecutive monthly decrease.
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said the figures are a clear signal that focus must be on getting the economy "back to health".
He added: "We have to get Scotland back to work and it is imperative we keep making the right decisions to support and grow our economy.
"Restoring confidence and stability will require work across every sector and I will continue to meet with a wide variety of businesses and organisations in the coming weeks and months.
"Tackling youth unemployment continues to be a major focus and I will chair a major national event on the issue in March to build on the seminars held throughout Scotland over the last year. We are taking practical steps through the UK Government's Youth Contract, a £1 billion initiative backed by business and aimed directly at helping the young unemployed into work.
"There is no doubt it will take the committed efforts of both of Scotland's governments to overcome the scourge of joblessness among our young people and I will work with the Scottish Government, agencies, civic Scotland and anyone else to get people back into jobs.
"There has been a lot of interest in the constitution and the uncertainty surrounding Scotland's future in the last few days but Scotland should know nothing will divert this government from the challenges we face in creating long-term, sustainable jobs."
Wider figures show the British unemployment level has reached a 17-year high with a 118,000 increase in the jobless total, which saw a record number of young people out of work.
The figure jumped to 2.68 million in the three months to November, the worst since the summer of 1994.
The number of people across the UK claiming JSA increased by 1,200 to 1.6 million.
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