At the end of last month, the Scottish Government published a summary of the results from the Annual Population Survey (APS) 2020/21. The APS provides information on a variety of key indicators, including employment, equality, underemployment, unemployment and general participation in the labour market.  

In terms of employment, and in comparison to figures collated for the same period in 2019 to 2020, the APS for 2020/21 displays a fall in the employment rate in Scotland, from 74.7% to 72.8%.  This percentage fall represents a decrease in the employment rate in all ages bands up to the age of 65, with the APS reporting that the unemployment rate has increased in all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities since April 2019 to March 2020.  

Given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and the impact that this continues to have on the economy and labour market, the APS notes that the statistics reported should be interpreted in the context of Covid-19.  In particular, the APS comments on the furlough scheme (which has now wound down), acknowledging that it remains too early to ascertain the real impact of Covid-19, and whether the figures in the 2020/21 APS are indicative of a short-term fluctuation, or whether the figures represent the beginning of a longer term trend.