Labour Market Trends: June 2026
Trends in Labour Market indicators from HMRC PAYE RTI, Claimant count, and ONS Labour Force Survey data covering Scotland and the UK.
Part of
Employment estimates
The employment rate for people aged 16 to 64 years in Scotland was estimated at 74.3% in February to April 2026. This is 0.7 percentage points down compared to a year ago and 0.5 percentage points down over the quarter.
The UK employment rate was estimated at 75.0% in February to April 2026. This is the same as a year ago and also the same as the previous quarter.
Chart 6: The employment rate for Scotland was lower than the UK
Employment rates for persons aged 16 to 64, Scotland and the UK, January to March 2019 through to February to April 2026
Source: Labour Force Survey, seasonally adjusted, ONS
Chart 7: Scotland had the 2nd highest employment rate across the countries of the UK
Employment rate and annual change for persons aged 16 to 64, UK countries, February to April 2026 compared to February to April 2025.
Source: Labour Force Survey, ONS
Note: Annual change shown in percentage point
Contact
For enquiries about this publication please contact:
Labour Market Statistics,
Office of the Chief Economic Adviser
E-mail: LMStats@gov.scot
For general enquiries about Scottish Government statistics please contact:
Office of the Chief Statistician
E-mail: statistics.enquiries@gov.scot