SCOTLAND’S unemployment rate has fallen to another record low, with just 3.4 per cent of the adult population looking for work.
The office of national statistics said the employment rate also rose between November last year and January to 75.3%.
The UK unemployment and employment rates also moved in a positive direction to 3.9% and 76.1% respectively.
UK employment was its highest since 1971.
Scottish unemployment was down 0.9 percentage points over the year and employment up 0.5 percentage points.
Last month the ONS found 3.5% of economically active Scottish adults were unemployed between October and December.
READ MORE: Record 32.7 million people in work as UK jobless rate falls
SNP business Minister Jamie Hepburn said: “Despite the huge and continued challenges of Brexit, the Scottish economy and jobs market continues to strengthen.
“Scotland’s employment rate rose to 75.3%, close to the highest on record.
The unemployment rate fell yet again, to 3.4%, another record low and lower than the rest of the UK.
“Scotland is performing particularly well on unemployment rates for women and young people. At 2.6% for women and 7.4% for young people, both rates are at record lows and significantly lower than in the rest of the UK.
“However, while Scotland’s economy and jobs market continues to grow, the UK Government’s Brexit plans, in whatever form, will cost jobs, make people poorer and damage our society.
“We continue to call on the UK Government to rule out the possibility of a ‘no deal’ Brexit and extend the Article 50 process. However, as a responsible government we will also continue - and indeed intensify - our work to prepare for all outcomes as best we can.”
READ MORE: Scottish unemployment hits record low
Tory Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: “It is great news that employment continues to rise in Scotland.
“Scotland’s two governments are working together to strengthen our economy and create jobs, with initiatives such as our growth deal programme beginning to reap rewards.
“In the last few weeks we have co-signed the £250m Ayrshire growth deal and announced £345m in joint government funding for the Borderlands.
“The UK Government’s investment in growth deals in Scotland is now more than £1.35bn, and shows our huge commitment to growing Scotland’s job sector.”
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