A report from the Centre for Cities has revealed stark wage disparities across the UK, with workers in London earning the annual Scottish average by September each year.
Londoners boast the UK’s highest weekly earnings at £950.20 in 2024, contrasting sharply with Scotland’s average of £686.
The “Cities Outlook 2025” report, examining wage levels in 63 major UK towns and cities, identifies only seven cities outside the Greater South East where earnings surpass the national average, including Edinburgh and Aberdeen with weekly incomes of £785.50 and £765.80, respectively.
This research underscores a concentration of above-average salaries within England’s Greater South East region.
Furthermore, it links higher local wages to substantial export sectors, suggesting that prosperity hinges on attracting leading-edge enterprises.
Amidst this economic backdrop, the Labour Government has pinpointed the elevation of living standards across every UK region as a critical objective.
However, Centre for Cities CEO Andrew Carter criticizes incremental approaches as inadequate, calling for decisive actions and emphasizing that 2025 must be a pivotal year for executing the UK Government’s industrial strategy.
Scottish Employment Minister Tom Arthur highlighted the innovative and growth-supportive roles of Scottish cities, bolstered by initiatives like the City Region Deals.
He also noted that Scotland’s median weekly pay for full-time workers recently outpaced the UK average, ranking third among the UK’s nations and regions, trailing only behind London and the South East of England.
