Glasgow's 19th-century shipbuilding industry made it one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Today, modernisation has led to a flourishing finance and technology labour market, with tremendous growth forecasted for cutting edge industries, such as those focussing on low carbon solutions and biotechnology.
Glasgow also has the highest employment rate it has seen in over ten years. The most significant percentage of Glaswegian workers are educated professionals, and 10% of the workforce are employed as skilled tradespeople.
Major industries include health and finance. The biggest employers in Glasgow are JP Morgan Chase & Co., the National Health Service, and Morgan Stanley. This means that the most popular jobs in Glasgow are office-based. Competition in these major industries can be fierce. Previous experience is a must when applying for these jobs.
There are several growing industries in Glasgow with promising futures. These include Engineering, Design, Tourism and Low Carbon Industries. Glasgow's fastest-growing sector is biotechnology and life sciences. There are plans to extend the already bustling "BioCorridor" into a world-leading industry hub. The BioCorridor is a series of life science-based business centres in the west of Scotland, near Glasgow.
The growth in these industries means there are always jobs available for those with the right skills and qualifications. Much of this growth in Glasgow comes from its main three universities, providing a highly skilled workforce.
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Part-time work in Glasgow
There is a steady stream of part-time positions in Glasgow. These can range from front-of-house work at a restaurant to receptionist work for different companies. While you are looking for a full-time job, it is likely that you would be able to cover living costs with part-time work. For example, if you are paid £9 an hour (a realistic wage), and work 15 hours a week, you will earn around £540 a month, which is enough to pay a monthly rent in Glasgow, especially if you live in a flatshare, and to cover other expenses - if you live affordably.
Glasgow City Council rewards businesses for paying employees fairly. This is known as a "Living Wage" program. Companies that follow this program pay their employees around 10% more than the national minimum wage, which is £8.21. This only applies to lower-paying jobs, however. Skilled workers are likely to be paid more than the minimum and living wage.
The average salary across Glasgow is £35,100 per annum. Finance jobs are among the highest paying in Glasgow, with the average salary for a JP Morgan Chase & Co employee being £46,042 per annum.
Although salaries are generally lower in Glasgow than London, the most popular UK destination for expats, living costs are much lower in Glasgow, and quality of life is higher. This makes Glasgow a great place to work in. And now is a great time to move here as the city's economy is expected to grow rapidly within the next couple of years.
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A journalist, holder of the DALF C1 and C2 and a diploma from the University of Mauritius, I have nearly twenty years of writing experience. After six years in the Mauritian press, I joined Expat.com, where I have been working for over a decade, including five years as editorial assistant, and now as editorial manager.
