THE jobless figures in Scotland are now significantly better than south of the Border after the seventh consecutive month of the total falling.

There has been a marked fall in youth unemployment which was more than 25% at the end of 2011 and was just over 15% in May. Ministers said only five European countries had a lower rate of youth unemployment.

Efforts to cut back on lost youngsters dubbed "neets" has paid off with record levels of school-leavers going into education, employment or training.

The figures were revealed as First Minister Alex Salmond announced an £88 million scheme aimed at helping up to 10,000 young people into work.

He said: "Today's figures mark another significant rise in employment, with an increase of 47,000 people in work across Scotland.

"Particularly welcome is the continuing fall in youth unemployment, which has fallen by 6.1 percentage points over the year, and which has dropped dramatically since I appointed Angela Constance as youth employment minister."

The headline jobless rate fell by 6000 from February to April to stand at 194,000. The number of people who are unemployed, including those who are not eligible for benefits, is now 25,000 lower than the same period last year.

Scotland's unemployment rate remains lower than that for the UK as a whole, at 7.1% compared to 7.8%. Scotland's 72.2% employment rate is above the UK average of 71.5%.

A total of 2,530,000 Scots are now in work, with employment having risen by 47,000 over the quarter from February to April.

The number of Scots out of work and claiming jobseeker's allowance fell by 700 from April to stand at 135,600 in May – with this total 6,800 less than it was 12 months ago.

However, Labour employment spokesman Ken Macintosh was sceptical, saying: "Any fall in unemployment is welcome, but behind the headlines these figures show that there are less people now in full-time work than a year ago, more people unemployed for longer periods of time and more people in temporary jobs with no guarantee of future income. "

Mr Salmond called on UK Chancellor George Osborne to use this month's spending review to "recognise the key route to deficit reduction is economic growth and the key to economic growth is investment, not austerity".

But Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said the coalition's action to cut the deficit was working.

Mr Moore said: "The rise in employment together with fewer people claiming jobseeker's allowance in Scotland is very welcome, not least for those who are moving from unemployment into jobs."

Liz Cameron, chief executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: "We have seen a steady downward trend in unemployment in Scotland throughout this year so far and the news that this latest fall has been accompanied by a rise in employment suggests that job creation in Scotland is becoming more sustained."