Claimant count unemployment dropped 500 last month, to 100,000.

The figure across the UK fell by just over 6,000, to 934,000, giving a jobless rate of 3.1%.

But according to International Labour Organisation (ILO) statistics, which the government prefers as a true measure of people looking for work, UK unemployment increased by 19,000 between August and October, to 1,532,000.

The ILO figure is the widest measure of unemployment and includes those not eligible for benefit.

Seasonally unadjusted ILO unemployment in Scotland was 168,000, or 6.5%.

Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell said: "Against a background of difficult global economic conditions I am encouraged by the continuing improvement in Scotland's labour market performance.

"ILO unemployment is down and claimant count unemployment is at its lowest level for 27 years."

However John Monks, general secretary of the TUC, raised concern over the UK manufacturing sector.

"While today's labour market figures show a welcome increase in overall employment, the most representative measure of unemployment rose slightly and the latest annual data shows manufacturing shedding around 170,000 jobs," he said.