The number of Scots in work has reached a record high of more than 2.6 million, with both sides of the independence debate claiming the figures as a boost to their campaign.

Employment rose by 45,000 in three months from May to July to stand at 2,623,000 - a rise of 87,000 on the same time last year.

With the key figures being released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the day before the independence referendum, leading figures on both sides of the debate seized on the data.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander hailed the rising employment total as "a powerful demonstration of how we are better together" while Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney insisted the figures were a "huge vote of economic confidence in Scotland's future".

The unemployment total fell by 35,000 over the year to a new total of 168,000 for May to July while the unemployment rate of 6% is lower than the figure of 6.2% for the UK as a whole.

The employment rate north of the border is also better than the UK, with 73.9% in work compared to 73%.

The number of Scots who are out of work and claiming jobseeker's allowance has also fallen. It is down by 3,200 from July to a new total of 89,700 in August.

Mr Alexander said: "These very strong numbers show that the United Kingdom is becoming the employment powerhouse of the major economies.

"UK unemployment has seen the largest annual fall on record. The nations of the United Kingdom are recovering together."

The UK Government minister added: "On the eve of the most important vote in the history of these islands, Scotland's employment has risen by 45,000 in the three months to July.

"These numbers, and our strengthening recovery, are a powerful demonstration of how we are better together.

"As we cast our ballots tomorrow, we will be holding not just Scotland's recovery in our hands, but our prosperity for generations to come.

"We should follow the evidence and vote No Thanks as the only way to make sure we keep creating jobs in Scotland.

"Not voting, or voting Yes, will send our country down the high-risk road to irreversible separation and economic disaster."

Mr Swinney said: "These figures are a massive boost to the Yes campaign as we move into the final day of campaigning.

"They are a huge vote of economic confidence in Scotland's future and expose the scaremongering of the No campaign.

"We now have the highest employment on record and unemployment, while still too high, is falling steadily.

"On every headline figure we are outperforming the UK. That is the reality of Scotland's economy and that clearly demonstrates how wrong the scaremongering of the UK Government and the No campaign has been."

He claimed that UK Chancellor George Osborne had said two years ago that "the referendum process would be bad for Scotland's economy" but Mr Swinney said: "Instead, employment is at a record high and our economy has recovered from the Westminster recession.

"Tomorrow we have a unique opportunity to build on this success and to bring job-creating powers for Scotland into Scotland's hands - but only a Yes vote gives us that opportunity.

"Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and with a Yes vote on Thursday we will finally have the ability to make sure everyone can benefit from that wealth."