The unemployment rate in Scotland is now 6.2% compared with 5.1% for the UK as a whole, new figures show. The number of people out of work in Scotland rose 20,000 between December and February to 171,000, according to official figures published on Wednesday. Employment was also down by 21,000, putting Scotland's employment rate at 73.9% - just lower than the overall UK rate of 74.1%. Andy Willox, of the Federation of Small Businesses, (FSB) said: "These statistics should focus minds for those pounding pavements on the Holyrood campaign trail. "Our research shows Scottish small business confidence faltering. Firms are dealing with a raft of new challenges, including the National Living Wage and pension auto-enrolment deadlines." Mr Willox added: "While many parts of Scotland continue to do well, too many communities still suffer from the mistakes of the past, while some local economies face new challenges for which they seem unprepared." Responding to the new figures, Labour said there was "no future for Scotland as a low wage, low skill economy". Public services spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: "We must give our young people the skills they need to compete for the jobs of the future. "That's why Labour will use the new powers of the Scottish Parliament to ask the top 1% earning more than £150,000 to pay a 50p top rate of tax so we can invest in schools and stop the cuts. "Hundreds of millions of pounds of cuts to our schools will simply cut into our future prosperity and hold our country back. We don't have to accept those cuts. We can choose to do things differently in Scotland." Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Willie Rennie said the SNP had been "utterly timid" on unemployment, adding Scotland was "falling behind the rest of the UK". Rennie said: "We need to use the powers that we have to help create jobs and ensure companies can get the skilled staff they need. "That is why Liberal Democrats will use the tax powers of the Scottish Parliament to make a transformational investment in education." He added: "People in Scotland who have found themselves out of work can't afford to wait for the SNP to get to grips with the economic challenges we are facing." The SNP insisted its record on employment was still strong and compared favourably with other parts of the UK. The party's fair work spokeswoman Roseanna Cunningham said: "Our employment rates remain strong as does our record on boosting female and youth employment. "We continue to have the lowest inactivity rate and second-highest employment rate of all four UK nations." Cunningham added: "We will continue to create employment opportunities, provide skills and training, and promote fair work and the living wage in our next term. "That is why in our first 100 days we will bring forward a new labour market strategy for Scotland to take us to the end of decade and beyond." The Scottish Greens called for bold policies to help workers and invest in sustainable industries. Youth and women's employment spokesperson Kirsten Robb said: "These figures show the need for bold action to improve pay and conditions for workers and the need for investment to create lasting jobs in new industries.  "Small businesses are vital to our economy and the Scottish Greens want to see greater support for small firms so we can encourage activity that boosts local economies and provides greater resilience compared to big firms who can be here today, gone tomorrow. "The closure of the Carron works, with the loss of 200 jobs, shows the need to plan for new industries in a low carbon future. "The Scottish Greens have a bold agenda on employment, from our Scotland Guarantee of work, education or training for every school leaver to our Jobs in the New Economy plan which outlines how we can create many more jobs in clean industries than currently exist in oil and gas extraction. With our progressive plans to reform income tax and council tax we are offering a fair way to raise funds to invest in public services and job security." The Scottish Conservatives have been approached for comment. Download: The STV News app is Scotland's favourite and is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from Google Play. Download it today and continue to enjoy STV News wherever you are.