The Scottish labour market has been relatively robust in recent times with high employment and low unemployment.
In the latest data, we are seeing these trends continuing with further increases in employment and decreases in unemployment.
There are 10,000 more people in work than a year ago; 2,000 fewer people in unemployment than a year ago; and 19,000 fewer people economically inactive than a year ago.
The quarterly unemployment rate dropped slightly to 4.3% over the period Jan-Mar, with the employment rate rising by 0.3% points over the same 3 months.
Scotland now has an unemployment rate slightly above that of the UK, but with an employment rate which is nearly a whole percentage point lower.
Authors
The Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI) is a leading economy research institute based in the Department of Economics at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.