Scottish independence: Ageing workforce fear

An independent Scotland may have to raise the retirement age to make up for a shrinking workforce.

Scotlands population is ageing at a faster rate than the UK. Picture: Neil Hanna

Scotland’s population is ageing at a faster rate than the UK, with the number of Scots in work expected to fall by 45,000 (2 per cent) by 2037, the International Longevity Centre (ILC) reported.

David Sinclair, assistant director of policy and research at ILC UK, said: “Policy will need to incentivise longer working lives and policy-makers will need to deliver increased investment in capital to improve the productivity of the workforce and drive growth.”

The Scottish Government has said a Yes vote could mean Scots would be spared UK plans to raise the state retirement age to 67 from 2026. A spokeswoman said: “Increasing the working age population requires not just improving life expectancy, but encouraging more women into work and attracting skilled workers from elsewhere.”