Labour Market Statistics for 16 to 24 year olds: Scotland and the United Kingdom – July 2022 to June 2023

Employment

Overall

In July 2022 to June 2023, an estimated 307,400 people aged 16 to 24 were in employment in Scotland. This is 12,600 less than the number of 16 to 24 year olds employed in July 2021 to June 2022.

The estimated employment rate for 16 to 24 year olds was 55.8 per cent in July 2022 to June 2023. This was 2.5 percentage points (pp) lower than the year before (58.3 per cent) and 3.3 pp lower than in July 2018 to June 2019 (59.1 per cent). July 2018 to June 2019 is the last data point in the July to June series before the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the United Kingdom as a whole, the estimated employment rate for 16 to 24 year olds was 53.3 per cent. This was 0.4 pp lower than a year ago (53.7 per cent) and 0.7 pp lower than in July 2018 to June 2019 (54.0 per cent).

Chart 1: The employment rate for people aged 16 to 24 in Scotland continues to exceed the United Kingdom rate

Employment rate estimates for persons aged 16 to 24, Scotland and the United Kingdom, July 2004 to June 2005 through to July 2022 to June 2023

Source: Annual Population Survey, July to June datasets, ONS

Shaded areas represent 95 percent confidence intervals.

Employment by Sex

In July 2022 to June 2023, an estimated 145,000 men and 162,400 women aged 16 to 24 were in employment in Scotland.

The estimated employment rate for 16 to 24 year old men was 52.3 per cent, 4.7 percentage points (pp) lower than a year ago (57.0 per cent) and 7.0 pp lower than in July 2018 to June 2019 (59.3 per cent). While the estimated employment rate for 16 to 24 year old women was 59.3 per cent, 0.4 pp lower than a year ago (59.7 per cent) but 0.4 pp higher than in July 2018 to June 2019 (58.9 per cent).

The change since July 2018 to June 2019 for 16 to 24 year old men represents a statistically significant change.

Chart 2: The employment rate for women aged 16 to 24 has exceeded the rate for men since July 2020 to June 2021

Employment rate estimates for men and women aged 16 to 24 in Scotland, July 2004 to June 2005 through to July 2022 to June 2023.

Source: Annual Population Survey, July to June datasets, ONS

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 four areas affected are:

• Highland
• Orkney Islands
• Shetland Islands
• South Ayrshire

The three local authority areas with the highest 16 to 24 year old employment rates in July 2022 to June 2023 were:

• Na h-Eileanan Siar (85.7 per cent)
• Aberdeenshire (72.3 per cent)
• Angus (71.2 per cent)

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

• Dundee City (39.7 per cent)
• East Renfrewshire (44.9 per cent)
• Argyll and Bute (45.5 per cent)

All estimates listed are from a small sample size. These estimates should be used with caution.

Over the year (since July 2021 to June 2022)

The employment rate for 16 to 24 year olds had increased in seven local authority areas. The employment rate decreased in 20 local authority areas. The area with the largest increase was Fife (21.3 percentage points (pp)). The area with the largest decrease was Argyll and Bute (-25.6 pp). The changes for both Fife and Argyll and Bute represent statistically significant changes.

The estimates for Argyll and Bute in July 2021 to June 2022 and July 2022 to June 2023 are from small sample sizes. Therefore, the change over the year estimate should be used with caution.

Change since July 2018 to June 2019 (pre-pandemic)

The employment rate for 16 to 24 year olds had increased in 13 local authority areas. The employment rate decreased in 15 local authority areas. The area with the largest increase was Na h-Eileanan Siar (22.2 pp). The area with the largest decrease was Aberdeen City (-22.0 pp). The change since July 2018 to June 2019 for Aberdeen City represents a statistically significant change.

The estimates for Aberdeen City in July 2022 to June 2023 and the estimates for Na h-Eileanan Siar in July 2028 to June 2019 and July 2022 to June 2023 are from small sample sizes. Therefore, the change since July 2018 to June 2019 estimates should be used with caution.

Chart 3: Over the year, a higher number of local authority areas in Scotland have seen a decrease in their employment rates than an increase

Annual change in employment rate estimates for 16 to 24 year olds in Scottish local authorities, change from July 2021 to June 2022 to July 2022 to June 2023

Source: Annual Population Survey, July to June datasets, ONS

Estimates are shown for Scotland and all Local Authority areas except where estimates are considered unreliable.

Italic text indicates a statistically significant change over the period and a shaded background indicates estimates are from small sample sizes and should be used with caution.