Labour Market Statistics for 16 to 24 year olds: Scotland and the United Kingdom – October 2021 to September 2022

Employment

Overall

In October 2021 to September 2022, an estimated 320,000 people aged 16 to 24 were in employment in Scotland. This is 25,800 more than the number of 16 to 24 year olds employed in October 2020 to September 2021.

The estimated employment rate for 16 to 24 year olds was 58.3 per cent. This was 4.8 percentage points (pp) higher than the year before (53.5 per cent) but 0.8 pp lower than October 2018 to September 2019 (59.0 per cent). October 2018 to September 2019 is the last data point in this series before the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the United Kingdom as a whole, the estimated employment rate for 16 to 24 year olds was 53.6 per cent. This was 3.0 pp higher than a year ago (50.5 per cent) but 0.6 pp lower than October 2018 to September 2019 (54.2 per cent).

The change on year for both Scotland and the United Kingdom represent statistically significant changes.

Chart 1: Employment rate of people aged 16 to 24; Scotland and the United Kingdom; October 2004 to September 2005 through to October 2021 to September 2022

Source: Annual Population Survey, Oct-Sep datasets, ONS

Note: Shaded areas represent 95 per cent confidence intervals

Employment by Sex

In October 2021 to September 2022, an estimated 152,800 men and 167,300 women aged 16 to 24 were in employment in Scotland.

The estimated employment rate for 16 to 24 year old men was 55.2 per cent, 3.0 percentage points (pp) higher than a year ago but 4.2 pp lower than October 2018 to September 2019. While the estimated employment rate for 16 to 24 year old women was 61.4 per cent, 6.6 pp higher than a year ago and 2.8 pp higher than October 2018 to September 2019.

The change on year for women represents a statistically significant change.

Chart 2: Employment rate of people aged 16 to 24 by Sex; Scotland; October 2004 to September 2005 through to October 2021 to September 2022

Source: Annual Population Survey, Oct-Sep datasets, ONS

Note: Shaded areas represent 95 per cent confidence intervals

Employment by Local Authority areas

Some estimates in this section may come from a small sample size. When this occurs they may be less precise and users should be cautious when quoting them.

Estimates for local authority areas considered unreliable are not included. The three areas affected are:

• Na h-Eileanan Siar
• Orkney Islands
• Shetland Islands

The employment rate for 16 to 24 year olds in Scotland varies between Local Authorities.

The three local authority areas with the highest 16 to 24 year old employment rates in October 2021 to September 2022 were:

• Falkirk (69.8 per cent)
• South Lanarkshire (67.8 per cent)
• Clackmannanshire (66.5 per cent)

The three local authority areas with the lowest 16 to 24 year old employment rates were:

• Aberdeen City (36.6 per cent)
• Scottish Borders (45.8 per cent)
• Dumfries and Galloway (46.6 per cent)

All estimates listed above except those for Falkirk and South Lanarkshire are from a small sample size. These estimates should be used with caution.

Over the year (since October 2020 to September 2021)

The employment rate for 16 to 24 year olds had increased in 20 local authority areas. The employment rate decreased in eight local authority areas. The area with the largest increase was Falkirk (16.6 percentage points (pp)). The area with the largest decrease was North Lanarkshire (-13.1 pp). The estimate for Falkirk in October 2020 to September 2021 is from a small sample size. Therefore, the change over the year estimate should be used with caution.

Change since October 2018 to September 2019 (pre-pandemic)

The employment rate for 16 to 24 year olds had increased in 14 local authority areas. The employment rate decreased in 15 local authority areas. The area with the largest increase was East Renfrewshire (16.8 pp). The area with the largest decrease was Aberdeen City (-38.5 pp). The change for Aberdeen City represents a statistically significant change. The estimates for both areas are from small sample sizes and should be used with caution.

Chart 3: Change in employment rates of those aged 16 to 24 between October 2020 to September 2021 and October 2021 to September 2022 by Local Authority area (percentage points)

Source: Annual Population Survey, Oct-Sep datasets, ONS

Note: Estimates for the following areas are not available as they are considered unreliable:

• Clackmannanshire
• Na h-Eileanan Siar
• Orkney Islands
• Shetland Islands

Italic text indicates a statistically significant change over the period.

A shaded background indicates estimates are from small sample sizes and should be used with caution.