The Scottish Executive revealed that the nation's unemployment rate dropped to 6.9 per cent in the third quarter of the year, a decline of around 2,000 people.
In contrast, overall UK unemployment grew by 21,000 people and accounted for 7.9 per cent of the working-age population over the same period.
Scotland's employment rate grew by 0.5 percentage points to 74.2 per cent, representing an additional 15,000 people finding new jobs.
Enterprise minister Jim Mather said: 'The first fall in unemployment in Scotland since July 2008 is significant good news, and a further welcome indication of fragile recovery.'
He also claimed that Scotland's employment rates and economic activity has been better than the rest of the UK for the past 30 months.
Yesterday (December 16th), figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that overall UK employment stands at 72.5 per cent, or 28.93 million people.
In contrast, overall UK unemployment grew by 21,000 people and accounted for 7.9 per cent of the working-age population over the same period.
Scotland's employment rate grew by 0.5 percentage points to 74.2 per cent, representing an additional 15,000 people finding new jobs.
Enterprise minister Jim Mather said: 'The first fall in unemployment in Scotland since July 2008 is significant good news, and a further welcome indication of fragile recovery.'
He also claimed that Scotland's employment rates and economic activity has been better than the rest of the UK for the past 30 months.
Yesterday (December 16th), figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that overall UK employment stands at 72.5 per cent, or 28.93 million people.
