Scotland’s colleges make a crucial contribution to the Scottish economy. Each college is a major economic player in its own right – both at a national level and in the local communities that they serve. In many parts of Scotland, the sector provides vital employment opportunities that would not otherwise be available.
Scotland’s colleges spent over £6601 million in 2015/16, spending that supports economic activity across Scotland helping to create jobs and boost growth. However, the contribution of the college sector extends beyond simply the impact of its spending power. In addition to widening access to educational opportunities – potentially improving income equality and inclusive growth – colleges contribute to national economic growth through increasing human capital.
There is a body of evidence that measures the labour market benefits to an individual of education and training. Less emphasis has been placed on understanding how these effects impact on the wider economy.
This study aims to help fill this gap. We evaluate the economic contribution of college graduates from 2008/09 – 2015/16 to Scotland’s economy over the long-term. To do this, we make use of our detailed model of the Scottish economy.
Key Findings
- For the period 2008/09-2015/16 graduate cohorts we estimate that:
- The Scottish economy (as measured by GDP) will be better off by over £20 billion in present value terms (i.e. with future benefits discounted) over the long-term.
- This corresponds to around an additional £55,000 boost to productivity for the Scottish economy per graduate.
- The present value of the increase in public sector revenues is estimated to be £6.8 billion. Over the years studied, the total costs to the public sector of investing in these learners through nationally-recognised qualifications was approximately £2.4 billion – just 35% of the cumulative tax revenues generated over the long-term.
- The investment is estimated to support 13,896 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs in present value terms.
Authors
James is a Fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute. He specialises in economic policy, modelling, trade and climate change. His work includes the production of economic statistics to improve our understanding of the economy, economic modelling and analysis to enhance the use of these statistics for policymaking, data visualisation to communicate results impactfully, and economic policy to understand how data can be used to drive decisions in Government.
Eleanor Malloy
Peter McGregor
Peter McGregor is an Emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of Strathclyde, and is a former Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute
Anna Murray
Andrew Ross
Graeme Roy
Dean of External Engagement in the College of Social Sciences at Glasgow University and previously director of the Fraser of Allander Institute.