Why we’re all spending more time in work (but managing to make less)
SCOTS are working longer hours than at any time in the past decade as pressure on families intensifies.
Official government figures show that the average job now involves 31 hours of work a week – the highest figure since the credit crunch hit in 2007.
Despite this, the statistics show that the typical worker’s productivity has slumped – meaning they are now contributing less to the economy.
The increase in the amount of time people are spending at work comes amid growing pressure on families from tax rises imposed by the SNP Government and inflation increases. This has sparked renewed fears for the fragile state of Scotland’s ailing economy.
Latest productivity statistics, published yesterday by the Scottish Government’s chief statistician, show that the average weekly hours worked per job last year was 30.9, compared to 30.6 the previous year and 30.1 in 2015. It is the highest since the 2007 figure of 31.0.
However, output per hour declined from £31.43 per person per hour in 2016 to £31.38 in 2017.
Dean Lockhart, economy spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, said: ‘When we improve productivity the quality of jobs rises, wages rise and our standard of living increases.
‘The failure of the SNP to improve these essential elements of our economy continues to cost people jobs and income.’
The report estimates that, despite the increase in hours worked, annual labour productivity in Scotland as measured by output per hour worked, decreased by 1.9 per cent in real terms last year compared to 2016.
In 2017, the average worker added £105.40 to the Scottish economy for
‘Costs people jobs and income’
every hour they worked. This was the lowest figure in five years and compares to £107.40 the previous year.
The figures also show the gap between UK and Scottish productivity is larger than it was in 2009 and output per hour grew at a UK level in 2017 but fell in Scotland.
Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesman Carolyn Caddick said: ‘These new statistics will rattle businesses and consumers. We will have to wait and see whether the economy undergoes another brush with recession.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Scotland’s economy continues to grow. It is encouraging that these statistics show a strong increase in the number of hours worked in 2017.
‘Despite the dip over the last year, annual productivity levels have increased by 5.4 per cent in Scotland since 2007, compared to only 1.7 per cent growth for the UK as a whole.’