finance
Glasgow City Region Skills Data Shows Funding Shifts and Supply Gaps
Recent reviews of workforce indicators point to ongoing mismatches between employer needs and available skills despite a low jobless rate.
How we reported this
The Glasgow City Region recorded a 3% unemployment rate in 2023 even as research identified shortfalls in skills supply that limit economic growth ambitions.
That combination of low joblessness with elevated poverty, economic inactivity and low skill levels among residents has kept workforce development at the centre of local policy discussions. The absence of new allocations to the Flexible Workforce Development Fund for academic years 2023/24 and 2024/25 has removed a previous source of up to £15,000 for levy-paying employers and £5,000 for SMEs, prompting organisations to seek other routes for training investment.
Research Ties Skills Supply to Growth Targets
The Fraser of Allander Institute and the Scottish Centre for Employment Research completed a review of skills demand and supply across the city region to guide future investment decisions. Their findings feed directly into the City Region's economic planning and are being used by networks that link employers with training provision.
DYW Glasgow, hosted by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, continues to match employers with young people through structured programmes aimed at building future workforce capabilities. The Local Employability Partnership operates as a separate network of Glasgow-based organisations that provide access to skills training, job placements and volunteering opportunities for residents facing barriers to work.
Practical Routes for Employers and Jobseekers
Employers seeking to address specific skills gaps can contact DYW Glasgow or the Local Employability Partnership for current matching services. Both programmes draw on the same research base that mapped demand against supply and remain active despite the pause in Flexible Workforce Development Fund support.
Jobseekers and businesses can review eligibility and application details through the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and Glasgow City Council employability pages, which list active programmes and contact points without requiring new public funding announcements.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.