Commenting on the latest jobs figures, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP said:
Willie Rennie MSP"These shocking figures show that the focus of the Scottish and UK Governments must be to work in partnership to create the jobs that are so desperately needed.
"The Scottish Government has been allocated £400m extra capital spending power since the autumn. We need to see that deployed in the Scottish Budget Bill next week to support the economy, helping to bring forward transport infrastructure projects which will create jobs and growth.
"The extra money the Scottish Government has also means there is no excuse for them to continue to cut college places and opportunities for young people.
"We should be in the business of creating opportunities. That's why the UK Government's £1billion Youth Contract must get up in running in Scotland as soon as possible
"Scottish Ministers must show steely focus and pour all their efforts into sorting the Scottish economy and tackling unemployment rather than obsessing about an independence campaign which they want to conduct for the next two years."