Scotland unemployment rate
Scotland unemployment rate stood at 5.1% in Jun 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Labour market table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Apr 1992 to Jun 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Labour market table
| Indicator | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | 10-2025 | 09-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate by region | |||||||||||
| Scotland | 5.1 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.9 | |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.6 |
Understanding scotland unemployment rate
Joblessness as a proportion of the economically active resident population inside Scotland is quantified by this metric, incorporating individuals who are currently without paid work, ready to begin employment, and participating in active job hunts. Sibling rows partition the broader territorial totals into distinct administrative domains, permitting localised comparisons of labour market slack. Students who are not seeking work alongside retired individuals are excluded from the underlying labour force denominator, isolating the measure to those who are genuinely participating in the active labour market.
Seasonal patterns frequently influence sub-national figures due to weather-dependent sectors and academic term timetables, making period-on-period tracking misleading. Analysts ought to prioritise matching the current period against the same period from the previous year to filter out predictable annual cycles. Early estimates are subject to periodic population weight revisions, which can shift historical levels when new census benchmarks are integrated. Comparing this rate with claimant-based counts requires care, as survey definitions and administrative rules diverge significantly.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this series cover all residents within the territory?
- It covers only the economically active population, leaving out children, retirees, and those outside the labour force.
- How does this differ from the claimant count?
- The survey-based rate captures jobless individuals actively seeking work regardless of benefit eligibility, unlike administrative registers.
- Why is year-on-year comparison recommended?
- It neutralises predictable seasonal fluctuations that occur at specific times during the annual cycle.