Aberdeen and Edinburgh in UK top 5 cities

Aberdeen and Edinburgh have been ranked in the top five UK cities to live and work.

Edinburgh's performance was measured in 10 categories. Picture: Malcolm McCurrach

The capital is ranked third, while the Granite City has fallen to second to fifth after the oil industry crash.

Glasgow is also climbing the rankings in the 2015 Good Growth for Cities index to 24th, up one place from last year. Scotland’s biggest city is seen to outperform its core city peers of Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle, Birmingham and Liverpool, according to the index produced by PwC and think-tank Demos.

Paul Brewer, PwC’s government and public sector lead in Scotland, said: “While Aberdeen’s oil wealth has consistently influenced high scores in areas such as jobs, income and skills, the lower-for-longer oil price is beginning to chip away at that.”

The index measures 39 UK cities against 10 categories defined by the public and business as key to economic success and personal and family wellbeing.

The 2015 report says scores for most cities have improved on 2014 as the effects of economic recovery, particularly rising employment and a return to earnings growth, is felt UK-wide.