‘Investment needed’ to save city jobs

EDINBURGH faces a shortfall of up to 37,000 jobs by 2018, council chiefs have warned.

A new economic development strategy says 4000 public sector job losses are predicted by 2017 and new investment in the city “badly needed”, it was reported today.

The blueprint commits the council to supporting the creation or safeguarding of 20,000 jobs by attracting new investors and regenerating areas such as the waterfront.

Tom Buchanan, the council’s economic development leader, said: “Edinburgh is a successful, resilient city. It responded swiftly to the global financial crisis and came through the recession better than other UK cities.

“But despite these strengths, the city faces a jobs challenge. Unemployment is rising and is set to worsen. By 2018 there could be up to 37,000 more people looking for work in the city than there are jobs available.”