One in 20 Scots in a job that did not exist in1990

Impact of digital revolution revealed in a new report

MORE than one in 20 Scots is working in a job that has been created by the rise in new technology over the past 25 years.

The impact of the digital revolution on Scotland’s workplaces has been revealed by a new report which found that six per cent of all workers are employed in roles which did not exist before 1990.

These range from software engineers and database administrators to programmers and IT support workers, illustrating the extent to which the tech industry has grown during the last two decades.

The report, from accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), also revealed that Scotland is ahead of other regions such as parts of the North of England, Manchester, Wales and Merseyside when it comes to the number of people working in IT.

Meanwhile, researchers believe that jobs will continue to accumulate in cities and that some urban areas will experience high growth in the coming years.

It predicts that Glasgow and the surrounding area could see the amount of people in employment rise by 5.5 per cent, while the Scottish workforce will grow by 7.2 per cent overall.

The report was prepared by Dr Carl Benedikt Frey of Oxford University, and highlighted a shift in the UK workforce towards highly skilled professional and technical roles linked to overall economic performance in major UK regions and cities.

The latest UK economic forecast estimates GDP growth of 2.7 per cent for 2014 and 2.3 per cent for 2015 in Scotland, just marginally behind the UK average growth figure of 2.5 per cent.

Paul Brewer, head of government and public sector, PwC in Scotland, said: “Our UKEO estimates growth of 2.3 per cent in 2015, which is marginally below the UK average of 2.5 per cent and ahead of the North East of England, Northern Ireland, and Wales .

“It is also below the recent Fraser of Allander Institute forecast for GDP growth of 2.6 per cent in 2015; an upward revision to their November 2014 forecasts, reflecting evidence of a strengthening of the recovery in investment in particular.

There is no doubt that lower oil prices and falling inflation have given a boost to household disposable incomes and with inflation at 0.3 per cent, most workers have received what equates to a realterms pay increase.

“The significant footprint of the oil and gas sector in Scotland will restrain the impact of this on Scotland’s overall growth.

“However, recovery is being driven by jobs rather than productivity and productivity growth will be critical in enabling wages to recover without driving up inflation in the medium-term.”

However, there is concern over a “north-south digit al divide” with London continuing to attract the biggest number of tech posts.

Total employment across all sectors in Central London is projected to grow by a quarter over the next decade, with 13 per cent projected for Inner London .

Mr Brewer added: “Many Scottish Enterprise, local authority and City region investment programmes have sought to advance these objectives in recent years. Universities also have a vital role in establishing successful digital hubs.

“Edinburgh, for instance, is one of six UK universities to rank in the top 10 for computer science outside of London.”

‘‘ There is no doubt that lower oil prices and falling inflation have given a boost to household disposable incomes

BEECHGROVE Garden presenter Carolyn Spray prepares for the up coming Mother’s Day by checking on the progress of some of the 20,000 ranunculus plants at a garden centre near Edinbugh.

Ms Spray, who manages the family-owned Pentland Plants in Loanhead, was clearly impressed by the condition of the plant.

The Spray family have been growers since just after the First World War when Joseph Spray started a market garden in Leamington Spa. Garden centres across the country are gearing up for a busy time ahead of Sunday’s event. Picture: Gordon Terris