The Scottish TUC slammed at the weekend the optimistic spin put on recent labour market figures by SNP Finance Secretary John Swinney.

It said that zero-hours contracts had doubled in number and that there were 100,000 fewer full-time jobs than before the 2008 financial crash.

STUC economist Stephen Boyd said the minister “should really know better” and that there was a “long way to travel” before recovery was achieved.

The Bank of Scotland labour market “barometer” figure for March, published today, is the “second highest in the history of the survey, reaching pre-recession levels,” according to parent bank Lloyds chief economist Professor Donald Macrae.

The survey reports an “increase in the number of people appointed to jobs,” accompanied by a “strong rise in job vacancies” during March.

Mr Swinney welcomed the report, saying: “These figures paint a picture of strengthening recovery in Scotland.

“They follow on from last week’s labour market statistics, which reported record levels of employment.”

But STUC expert Stephen Boyd challenged the government and bank’s optimistic reading of the situation.

“As the latest official statistics published only last week confirm, there’s still a very long way to travel until pre-recession employment and unemployment are achieved,” he said.

“The employment rate is 3.5 per cent below and the unemployment rate 2.5 per cent above those achieved in summer 2008. 

“These figures make a mockery of the ‘highest employment level ever’ nonsense we heard last week from Scottish government ministers who really should know better.”