Pandemic makes improving Scotland’s economy 'four times harder'

Improving Scotland’s economy has been made four times harder by the impact of the pandemic, a report warns today.

Cities like Glasgow face an uphill struggle to improve their economies after the pandemic, according to a new report. Picture: contributed.

The Centre for Cities think tank also identifies Dundee as the location facing the biggest economic challenge in Scotland.

Overall, the report estimates that 30,900 people in Scotland’s largest cities now need to find secure, well-paid jobs to rebuild and improve the economy, compared to 8,600 last March.

It calls for measures including better adult education to improve job prospects and transport investment. Dundee is followed closely by Glasgow in terms of challenges faced, followed by Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: “Covid-19 has made the task of improving Scotland’s economy and spreading prosperity around its cities and towns much harder.

“Rebuilding and strengthening the economy of Scotland and its cities will not be cheap and will require more than short-term handouts. Government support and investment for new businesses in emerging industries will be essential, as will spending on further education to train people to do the good-quality jobs created.”

The report also calls for the £20 temporary rise in Universal Credit to be made permanent, more support for jobless people, and the assessment of a renewed Eat Out to Help Out scheme for hospitality and non-online retailers once it is safe.

Last week, a separate report warned that Glasgow will be the Scottish city hardest hit by the economic fallout of Covid.

The Demos-PwC report said Scotland's biggest city will have seen its economy shrink by 10.4 per cent in 2020.

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