Dundee has been ranked among the cities with the lowest economic development and employment figures in the UK.
Despite a recent spike in new business start-ups and a fall in out-of-work benefit claimants, the City of Discovery still has a long way to catch up with the rest of the country.
The findings were revealed in a new report titled Cities Outlook 2016, an economic ‘league table’ for the UK’s major cities.
Out of 63 cities surveyed, Dundee ranked a lowly 62nd for employment rate (61.2%) in 2014/15 and 57th for the number of people relying on benefits.
The city also came 57th in terms of business start-ups.
Lack of skills was just one of the problems facing the population, with the city ranking in the top 10 for having the highest number of people with no qualifications.
Dundee was 61st in the table for having the lowest proportion of private sector jobs compared to public sector.
It was also largely bottom of the league in last year’s Cities Outlook 2015 report, which surveyed 64 cities.
The city had the lowest employment rate in all of the UK last year, moving up to second lowest this year.
In the 2015 report, Dundee didn’t feature in the bottom 10 for people with no qualifications, whereas this year it is at number 57.
Tim Allan, president of Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, said the findings were concerning.
He said: “Although employment is rising there is still a lot to be done.
“We’ve been told that 1,000 jobs will be created at the waterfront, but who are these employers and what are these jobs?
“More also needs to be done to deliver the renewable jobs that have been promised to the city.
“Dundee’s private sector is doing its very best, but there’s a concern about the high business rates.”
The latest report showed Dundee had the lowest housing stock growth in all of the UK between 2013-15 and was among the slowest growing cities between 2004 and 2014, with just 5,200 newcomers to the city.
City development convener Will Dawson said: “Investment programmes are continuing throughout the city and we are committed to creating new opportunities for the people of Dundee.”
On the plus side, the city is one of the most affordable for home ownership in the UK, with the average house price (£130,300) amounting to 5.7 times the average salary (£22,800) in the city.
In comparison, London’s average house price is 16.2 times the average salary.