Economic growth
Edinburgh enjoyed the greatest economic growth
of any UK city between 2002 and 2005 and has the highest Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of any UK city outside
London.
It is predicted to continue outperforming most
of the UK with growth of 3.3% a year until 2010.
Productivity across Edinburgh City Region is
also growing far faster than both the European and UK
averages. At just 1.9% in June 2007, unemployment in the city
was at its lowest level for 15 years.
In terms of scale, Edinburgh City Region
accounts for almost a third - £21bn - of Scotland's GDP and has
created at least 28,000 new jobs since 2000.
The number of VAT-registered businesses in
Edinburgh increased by 13% in the eight years to 2004, while the
wider city region is home to roughly half of Scotland's
fastest-growing technology companies.
Many of Edinburgh’s public and private sector
employers are working together in collaborative partnerships to
develop and grow Edinburgh's economy. The city itself has formed a
pioneering collaboration project with Glasgow
designed to help both city regions attract investment and compete
internationally by harnessing their shared critical mass and labour
pool.
