THE number of Scots in work has reached a record high of more than 2.6 million.

Employment rose by 45,000 in three months from May to July to stand at 2,623,000 - a rise of 87,000 on the same time last year.

Meanwhile, both sides of the independence debate claimed the figures as a boost to their campaign.

With the figures being released by the Office for National Statistics the day before the independence referendum, leading figures on both sides of the debate seized on the data.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander hailed the rising employment total as "a powerful demonstration of how we are better together."

But Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney insisted the figures were a "huge vote of economic confidence in Scotland's future."

The unemployment total fell by 35,000 over the year to a new May-July total of 168,000, while the unemployment rate of 6% is lower than the UK figure of 6.2%.

North of the Border, the employment rate, is also better than the UK, with 73.9% in work compared to 73%.

The number of Scots who are out of work and claiming jobseeker's allowance has also fallen. It fell by 3,200 from July to a new total of 89,700 in August.

Mr Alexander said: "These very strong numbers show that the United Kingdom is becoming the employment powerhouse of the major economies.

"UK unemployment has seen the largest annual fall on record. The nations of the UK are recovering together."

Mr Swinney said: "These figures are a massive boost to the Yes campaign.

"They are a huge vote of economic confidence in Scotland's future and expose the scaremongering of the No campaign."

He said that UK Chancellor George Osborne had said two years ago that "the referendum process would be bad for Scotland's economy".

But Mr Swinney said: "Instead, employment is at a record high and our economy has recovered from the Westminster recession."

rebecca.gray@ eveningtimes.co.uk