Research reveals Scottish football’s £820m boost to Scottish economy
New independent analysis from University of Strathclyde’s Fraser of Allander Institute shows the game supports over 14,000 jobs across the country.
New independent academic research has revealed that Scottish football contributes £820m GVA* to the Scottish economy and supports 14,315 jobs.
The assessment from the respected Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde underlines the growing contribution of our national sport and its clubs to the Scottish economy.
The research project – commissioned by the SPFL, SWPL and Scottish FA – found the Scottish football sector contributed £545m in gross value added (GVA) and supported 9,245 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs throughout the Scottish economy as part of the Institute’s assessment of the 2023/24 season.
And that rose to £820m GVA and 14,315 FTE jobs after including fan spend related to matches across the country.
This latest study also found that:
• The total turnover of the Scottish football sector was £426 million.
• The industry accounts for 20% of direct sports and recreation sector GVA in
Scotland.
• Attendances topped 6.8m at professional football matches involving a Scottish team
in season 2023/24.
The research project was launched in 2025 to examine the contribution of the professional men’s and women’s game and the Scottish national teams to the Scottish economy. The research examined the contribution through three channels – the economic footprint of the SPFL and SWPL clubs themselves, the economic boost from fans attending matches in the SPFL and SWPL league and cup competitions, and from fans attending “international” matches – whether that was the men’s or women’s Scotland national team or an SPFL or SWPL club in European competition.
The Fraser of Allander Institute examined information on clubs’ economic activities including their revenues and day-to-day spending. Data was taken from club accounts and detailed
research on a select number of SPFL and SWPL clubs across the leagues. The Fraser of Allander Institute then used a detailed economic model to capture the direct impact of club and spectator activities and the wider spill-over effects on the Scottish economy.
This research builds on a previous SPFL specific study carried out by the Institute, published in 2020 on 2017/18 season data, which found that SPFL clubs’ activities, plus all spending by spectators at SPFL matches, contributed a gross figure of £444m to Scotland’s GDP and helped to support around 9,300 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs.
Read the full report here
Authors
Jack is an associate economist at the Fraser of Allander Institute.