Business activity on the rise in Scotland, report suggests

Date: 18th April 2011

Small businesses operating in various industries across Scotland could be among those encouraged by the publication of a new report.

The latest figures from Bank of Scotland's Report on Jobs have revealed that demand for staff increased at the fastest pace since September 2007 last month.

This could point to a wider strengthening of the economy, which will come as good news to the country's small business operators.

Data from the firm's Labour Market Barometer showed a reading of 53.8, which Bank of Scotland said indicated a "solid improvement" in the country's jobs market.

Donald MacRae, chief economist at Bank of Scotland, commented: "All eight sectors registered a rise in permanent job vacancies during March, with the strongest increase occurring within the IT & Computing sector.

"This latest Report on Jobs provides further evidence of the recovery in the Scottish economy."

The study also showed that Dundee was the city to show the fastest increase in demand for temporary workers.

Posted by Emily Smith