EMPLOYMENT figures may be hiding the true level of inequality and poverty in some Scottish cities, a new report has found.
The research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) and the Fraser of Allander Institute examines how many people want to work and how many jobs are available in each council area in Scotland, and in larger commuting areas.
While Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen had just three people looking for work for each position available, compared to up to 35 in Dundee or 10 in the Borders, these better rates in masked the high “concentrations of poverty” within those cities.
The report calls for a “radical” labour market and employment support overhaul and said putting the “right jobs in the right places” is one of the key levers to tackling child poverty.
Across Scotland, four people on average wanted to work for every advertised job vacancy. The charity said the findings show Scotland does not have a single job market, but many, with “each presenting a different challenge and requiring a different response”.
It said the report showed the “potential untapped workforce in communities across Scotland which could flourish, given the right conditions”.
Jack Evans, senior policy adviser at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “Many people in Scotland feel overlooked by politicians and let down by an economy that is not working for them.
“Their relationship with the labour market often drives that feeling, but with the right conditions, there is an opportunity to turn this around and allow workers to flourish.
“Parents who want to work, and who have tried to work, are telling us the same thing that they have been telling politicians for years: the jobs are not where they live, or they do not pay enough, or they do not fit around their lives.
“If we want to lift children out of poverty and shape a better future for Scotland, we must invest in the places that have been waiting longest for good jobs to come back.
“This means building a childcare, transport and employability offer that meets parents where their working lives are, as well as simplifying the system so it’s clear who is responsible for local jobs, what they are doing, and whether it is working.
“People in these communities want to see their towns and cities thrive and that means councils, the Scottish Government, and local businesses all need to step up and play their part in making that happen.”
The report warns the Government against treating the labour market’s contribution to poverty as “a problem with individuals, rather than with job availability”.
Researchers found that employability investment is weighted towards a person’s readiness, even in places where the “binding constraint” is a lack of jobs.
Tom Arthur, Minister for Business and Fair Work, said: “Tackling child poverty is the defining mission of this Government.
“We are reviewing employability support within our first 100 days to break down barriers to work and ensure people have the help they need to enter and sustain employment.
“Our 2026-27 budget provides £90 million for Scotland’s employability services to enable more people to find and progress in work, including £40 million ringfenced to support parents.
“We estimate that more than 24,000 people will benefit from these services in 2026‑27.
“We are also working across childcare, transport, skills and social security to remove barriers to parents getting into work.”
