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The rate of underemployment in Scotland has fallen 0.4 percentage points to 9.6 per cent according to new official figures.

A new report from the Office for National Statistics suggests the level of underemployment – those who wanted to work and additional 11.3 hours per week – was lower in Scotland than in all but two regions in England and Wales.

Only the West Midlands and East of England regions had lower rates of underemployment at 9.4 per cent and 9.2 per cent respectively.

The North East of England has the highest rate of underemployment at 11.5 per cent of workers in the region underemployed.

At 9.6 per cent, Scotland's rate of under-employment is below the 9.9 per cent UK average.

Commenting on the latest ONS figures on underemployment, Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training, Roseanna Cunningham, said: “These figures show that underemployment in Scotland fell by 0.4 percentage points to 9.6 per cent over the year to 2013 and that the underemployment rate in Scotland is lower than the UK rate of 10 per cent – further evidence that, despite the global recession, economic recovery in Scotland is gaining momentum and continues to strengthen.

“The Scottish Government is committed to improving the economy and the Programme for Government which we will set out tomorrow will outline what we are doing to further accelerate economic recovery and strengthen Scotland’s labour market.”

The ONS said in 2014, one in 10 people employed in the UK – roughly three million – want to work more hours, with the average hours needed put at 11.3 hours per week.

Of the total, the ONS said one in five of those underemployed work in 'elementary occupations' and in the 2014 period covering April to June, the ONS estimates one in five part-time workers are underemployed compared with one in 20 full-time workers.

The latest statistics suggest 1.8 million part-time workers in the UK – 22.1 per cent of the working total – are underemployed in 2014, compared with 5.4 per cent - or 1.2 million – workers in full-time work.

The ONS said 78 per cent of those who are classed as underemployed would like more hours in their current job, with 13.4 per cent saying they would like a new job with longer hours and 8.6 per cent saying they would like an additional job to provide extra hours.

These latest ONS figures suggest the total number of additional hours sought has increased from an average of 10.2 extra hours in 2008.

The ONS states: “Following the economic downturn the percentage of part time workers who were underemployed rose from 15.9 per cent, in 2008, to a peak of 24.4 per cent in July to September 2012 before it started to decline from July to September 2013 to the current rate of 22.1 per cent in 2014, still 6.2 percentage points, or 620,000 workers, higher than in 2008.

“Full time workers saw an increase since the economic downturn of around 1.2 percentage points since 2008, an increase of 274,000 workers.”

The ONS figures also suggest 19.6 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds are underemployed, more than double the percentage of any other age group.

Figures for overemployment - those who want to work fewer hours for less pay – were “very similar to the number of workers who were underemployed”, the ONS said, at 9.7 per cent or 2.9 million workers, the same level recorded in 2008.

On average, in 2014, each overemployed worker wanted to work 11.2 hours less per week than they currently employed to do.

The ONS said in the 2014 reported period, 11.4 per cent of full time workers in the UK were overemployed, compared with 5.2 per cent of part time workers.

Of those overemployed in full-time work, 13.9 per cent were in professional occupations and 13.5 per cent of people working as managers, directors and senior officials were also overemployed, the figures suggest.

The overemployment rate in Scotland is 8.8 per cent – one of the lowest rates recorded of any UK region with only the West Midlands And London recording lower percentage rates at 8.3 per cent and 7.6 per cent respectively.