The SNP has warned the UK is facing a growing jobs crisis under the Labour government as new analysis shows unemployment rising and vacancies falling since the 2024 general election.
The warning follows fresh figures from the House of Commons Library, commissioned by the SNP, which show the UK unemployment rate has increased in every quarter since Labour came to power.
Before the election, unemployment stood at 4.2 per cent, but has since risen quarter by quarter to 5.1 per cent, the highest level in five years and the worst since the covid pandemic.
In total, there are now 352,000 more unemployed people across the UK than when Labour entered government.
The number of people out of work has risen from 1.48 million in July 2024 to 1.83 million by October 2025.
At the same time, job vacancies have sharply declined, with 134,000 fewer roles available across the UK since Labour took office.
Vacancies have fallen from 863,000 in July 2024 to 729,000 by November 2025.
This has pushed the number of unemployed people per vacancy from 1.7 to 2.5, making it significantly harder to secure work.
The analysis shows young people have been hit particularly hard.
The number of unemployed 16 to 24 year olds has increased by 116,000 since Labour formed the government.
Youth unemployment has risen from 14.3 per cent to 16 per cent over the same period.
The SNP argues that Labour’s National Insurance tax hike has played a central role in weakening the jobs market.
The increase has raised costs for employers, making it more expensive to hire staff, create jobs, and pay competitive wages.
UK Government estimates suggest 940,000 employers are worse off as a result of the changes to employer National Insurance contributions.
The Office for Budget Responsibility reports that the average employer who loses out faces an increase in liabilities of around £26,000.
For a worker on the UK median wage of £39,000, employer National Insurance costs have risen by £985 per employee.
Employer contributions on that salary have increased from £4,250 to £5,235 following changes introduced in April 2025.
Business surveys point to a clear impact on hiring decisions.
In 2025, 46 per cent of firms surveyed by the Bank of England said they had reduced employment in response to the tax increase.
A Confederation of British Industry survey found that 69 per cent of firms identified the rise in employer National Insurance as a major threat to labour market competitiveness.
The SNP says Scotland presents a stark contrast.
Under the Scottish Government led by John Swinney, Scotland’s unemployment rate stands at 3.8 per cent.
That figure is 1.3 percentage points lower than the UK average.
SNP Economy spokesperson Dave Doogan said the figures show Labour’s economic approach is actively damaging jobs.
“The UK jobs market has significantly weakened under the Labour government, and the UK now faces a growing unemployment crisis as a result of damaging Labour Party policies like the National Insurance tax hike and the thousands of Scottish jobs Keir Starmer is destroying in Scotland’s energy sector.
“The blame for this UK jobs crisis lies squarely with the Labour government, and all the evidence suggests it will get worse not better.
“It shows the Labour Party is a threat to Scottish jobs, cannot be trusted on the economy, and could undo the success John Swinney’s SNP government has had in creating jobs and reducing unemployment in Scotland to the lowest levels in Britain.”
Doogan said the scale of job losses was particularly concerning for younger people.
“It is particularly worrying that young people have been disproportionately hit, damaging their life chances at the very start of their working lives.
“Under John Swinney, the SNP government is creating jobs and strengthening the economy, but the Labour Party is destroying them and causing chaos.
“It shows why it is vital to vote SNP at the Scottish elections in May to protect Scottish jobs and secure a fresh start for Scotland.”
