SCOTLAND is one of the most productive parts of the UK, according to the latest figures.
The data released by the Office for National Statistics showed that Scotland was behind only London and the South East in terms of labour productivity in 2020.
While a majority of regions in England have seen a decline in productivity since 1998, Scotland’s productivity has improved by 6% over the same period.
The report stated: “Scotland has improved over the last two decades and moved up the rankings to now outperform the East of England and North West regions.”
It continued: “Output per job levels in London, the South East and Scotland were significantly higher that the UK median level in 2020.”
In 2020 labour productivity remained highest in London, followed by the South East. However Scotland has moved up the rankings and now outperforms the East of England and the North West https://t.co/FEVQMzokWn pic.twitter.com/s8NZ2jfD5U
— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) June 16, 2022
Commenting on the results SNP MSP Michelle Thomson said: “It is very welcome to see that Scotland's productivity is growing and it underlines the huge amount of talent and potential we have across the country – from our energy resources and record of innovation to our tourism industry and our food and drink sector.
“It's important to remember that we could be doing even better though – the Scottish Government's first paper setting out the positive case for independence showed that neighbouring independent countries like Sweden, Ireland, Denmark and Finland all have higher productivity – often significantly higher – than the UK.
“For Scotland to fulfil all of its potential and become the hugely successful nation we know we can be, we need to secure the full powers of independence that allows us to escape Westminster control that is holding us back."
London’s productivity is more than 50% higher than the median region.
However, research published by Durham University Business School earlier this year concluded that London’s proximity to government and investment in infrastructure has helped it surpass the rest of the UK.
The research claimed that recent government investment in transport infrastructure favoured London, with average annual investment 2.8 times higher than in the rest of the UK between 2014-15 and 2018-19.
The UK’s other devolved administrations, Northern Ireland and Wales, were the least productive in terms of output per hour worked and output per job respectively.
