Nearly half a million Scots earning less than living wage

Analysis indicates that 470,000 people are now earning less than the living wage of £8.75 per hour.

It represents an increase of 53,000 on the 417,000 people cited in the report for 2012.

In education, 25 people were recorded as earning under the living wage - the number increased by 28% to 32 people in 2018.

'The rise in low pay across health and education in Scotland is alarming. The SNP should hang its head in shame.'

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard

In the accommodation and food services sector, 70 were earning less than the living wage in 2012.

In 2018, this figure increased by 26% to 88.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: "The rise in low pay across health and education in Scotland is alarming. The SNP should hang its head in shame.

"Those in the health and education sectors perform valuable work - they deserve much better than poverty pay.

"Under Labour work will pay, with a £10 per hour real living wage, a ban on zero-hours contracts and better rights with more security at work.

"Under the broken economy of the SNP and the Tories, more and more people are on poverty pay in Scotland this year, than last - including some of the most valued workers in society.

"Labour governments at Holyrood and Westminster have a plan to end poverty pay, including introducing a real living wage of £10 an hour and an industrial strategy that will deliver high-wage, high-skill jobs across Scotland."