Unemployment in Scotland falls by 14,000 to 96,000

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Scottish unemployment fell by 14,000 to 96,000 in the three months to December, according to official figures.

The unemployment rate for people aged 16 and over now stands at 3.5%, compared with 3.8% for the UK as a whole.

Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of people aged 16 and over in employment rose by 37,000, to stand at 2,680,000.

Scotland's employment rate of 75% was below the UK figure of 76.5%.

The increase in employment came as average weekly wages in the UK returned to pre-economic crisis levels for the first time since March 2008.

Weekly pay reached 拢511 in the three months to December - the last time they were this high, after adjusting for inflation, was before the downturn.

Excluding bonuses, earnings grew at an annual rate of 3.2% in the three-month period.

ONS deputy head of labour market statistics Myrto Miltiadou said: "In real terms, regular earnings have finally risen above the level seen in early 2008, but pay including bonuses is still below its pre-downturn peak."