UNEMPLOYMENT in Scotland has risen for the first time this year following a surge in the number of women out of work.
The jobless total rose 8000 to 205,000 in the quarter from March to May, official figures showed.
The total of 90,000 women out of work compares with 93,000 at the same period last year and 87,000 two years ago. The number of women in work rose by 15,000 from March to May to 1.2 million, the same level it was two years ago.
Scotland's growing jobless total contrasted with a fall of 57,000 across the UK, taking the number out of work to 2.51million.
However, the Scots unemployment rate, 7.5%, remained slightly below the UK figure of 7.8%.
The unemployment total of 205,000 was 2000 lower than at the same period last year. Scots out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance also fell by 1600 from May to 133,400 in June, the latest Office for National Statistics figures showed. Separate figures showed economic growth of 0.4% in the first quarter of the year, led by a recovery in the financial services sector.
Scottish Labour's deputy finance spokeswoman, Jenny Marra, said women workers were too reliant on temporary and insecure part-time jobs, leaving them vulnerable to job market fluctuations. She said: "Women continue to suffer within our labour market. While there is some good news in these figures, increasing unemployment and a substantial increase in those relying on part-time work shows just how fragile our economy remains."
The Scottish Labour market supports 688,000 part-time workers, an increase of 36,000 over the past three years. They include 514,000 women.
The official figures also showed very long-term unemployment nearly doubled in the year to June.
Figures for April to March showed wide variations in the unemployment rate around the country. It ranged from 17.4% in the Kirkcaldy Holyrood constituency and 16.9% in Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn to 1.8% in Aberdeenshire West and 2.5% in Aberdeenshire East.
The Scottish Government yesterday highlighted a continued fall in youth unemployment and a rise of 4000 – the sixth increase in succession – in the number of Scots in work, taking the total to 2,511,000.
Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing said Scotland was outperforming the UK, but warned: "We can build on these figures but we cannot allow Westminster's continued pursuit of austerity over economic recovery to derail the positive developments we are seeing in Scotland."
His comments were dismissed by Scottish Secretary Michael Moore who insisted signs of economic growth showed "the UK is delivering for Scotland as part of devolution".
An analysis by the CPPR think tank, based at Glasgow University, said jobless figures over recent months has revealed a "productivity puzzle," as employment levels recovered but the Scottish economy barely grew.
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