Glasgow's maturing skills and talent base will help to future-proof its economy.

Glasgow is a city of applied knowledge. By European and global standards, a very high share of the city’s workforce has achieved a high level of education and qualification. It continues to educate a globally impressive number of international students in disciplines that businesses need, such as finance, engineering and life sciences. The city has a consistent track record of attracting and retaining talent, an education system that is highly responsive in preparing the next generation of the workforce via multiple routes and a high share of people working in higher-level occupations that makes the skills base more flexible to work disruption. Glasgow’s culture of business openness and Corporate Social Responsibility also provides access to many young people.

"Glasgow ranks in the top 10% of regions in Europe for the proportion of working age adults with at least a degree-level qualification."

"The Glasgow region is in the top 10 mid-sized city regions globally for the number of international students."

"Glasgow is among the top 5 city regions in the UK for higher education student population, with over 90,000 higher education students in 2019-20."

"In 2019, a survey of 2,000 recent graduates asking where they moved to for work after university placed Glasgow as the joint top ranked UK city for student retention, retaining 51% of its graduates."

"The Glasgow region has the 2nd highest proportion of people employed in finance, real estate and insurance than any of the other core UK city region combined authorities outside of London, after Bristol."

"As of 2019, 46% of Glasgow City Region residents have a degree, well above the UK average of 38% and higher than in Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham"

"Glasgow ranks no. 3 among the 11 UK core cities for producing the highest number of financial and business graduates."

"Glasgow ranks no. 2 among the 11 UK core cities for producing the highest number of health and life sciences graduates."

"Glasgow ranks no. 1 among the 11 UK core cities for producing the highest number of engineering and advanced manufacturing graduates including 50% of the country's engineering students in the fields of electronics, mechanics and software."

""French insurance firm AXA offers a Glasgow-based Foundation Apprenticeship in Financial Services – the 1st of its kind in the UK."

"Glasgow's universities account for 50% of Scotland's engineering students in the fields of electronics, mechanics and software."

"Glasgow ranks no. 1 among the 11 UK core cities for producing the highest number of digital tech graduates."

"Glasgow ranks no. 3 among the 11 UK core cities for producing the highest number of creative graduates."

"Glasgow City Region has a working-age population more than 3% higher than the average across Great Britain, and the 2nd highest working age population in core UK city region combined authorities outside of London, except for Bristol."

"Glasgow's universities produce over 22,000 graduates per year. Around 7,000 of these are Science & Engineering graduates and 4,500 are Computer Science graduates."

"94% of international students in Scotland said it was a good place to be, and 86% of Scottish students would recommend it to others."

"Just before the pandemic hit, more than 45% of people working in the Glasgow City Region were working in ‘higher level’ occupations – a higher share than in Liverpool, Birmingham or Leeds."

"58% of Scottish Higher Education students are female."

"Glasgow is 18th among mid-sized cities globally (or 8th among mid-sized European cities) for overall talent pool availability, capability and quality."

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