This factsheet compares Glasgow to the five most similar European cities in terms of size and industrial structure. These are: Rotterdam (Netherlands), Dresden (Germany), Dortmund (Germany), Valencia (Spain) Bilbao (Spain)

Comparing cities in this way helps us to understand more about how well UK cities are competing on an international scale because it groups cities with similar industrial structures, rather than on their resulting economic performance. The factsheet also compares the relative strengths and weaknesses of Glasgow to its European counterparts on variables such as skills, employment and productivity.

City group characteristics

Glasgow is grouped with other large cities with a fairly even spread of jobs across business, public and private services.

Population

Industrial structure

Key

• Manufacturing, mining and utilities 2011
• Business services 2011
• Public services 2011
• Other private services 2011
• Other sectors 2011

Overall economic performance

Glasgow has a high number of jobs compared to its neighbouring cities, but has low productivity (GVA per worker). It also has a high proportion of low skilled people compared to both the group and to European cities as a whole.