Unemployment figures for Scotland fell last month, official statistics revealed today.

The claimant count measure - those people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance - fell by 1200 over the month, and 14,900 over the year to 72,300 for October 2007. The last time the claimant count was lower was in January 1975.

The internationally recognised ILO unemployment figure increased by 9000 over the quarter, but fell by 2000 over the year to stand at 130,000. The Scottish unemployment rate stands at 4.9% below the UK average unemployment rate of 5.4%.