Scotland’s private sector economy topped the UK league table on one key measure last month, a survey published today reveals.

For the first time in four months, Scotland recorded an increase in private sector employment in September.

And it is placed first out of the 12 UK nations and regions in the employment league table in the latest growth tracker survey from Royal Bank of Scotland.

Northern Ireland was the only other part of the UK to record a rise in private sector employment in September, according to the survey.

Scotland’s increase in private sector employment last month, although modest, was faster than that in Northern Ireland. It was only the second time in 10 months that private sector employment has risen in Scotland, Royal Bank noted.

The survey also shows a rise in September in Scottish companies’ optimism about the prospects for increased business activity on a 12-month horizon.........

© Herald Scotland