Average earnings

AVERAGE earnings in Shetland are among the highest in Scotland, according to Inverness based economist Tony Mackay.

Placed sixth among Scotland’s 32 local authorities, Shetlanders on average take home £465 per week, equating to around £24,000 per annum, which also is the Scottish average.

By comparison, wages in Aberdeen (£568.1), Edinburgh (£543), Renfrewshire (£508.2), Stirling (£493) and Glasgow City (£476) are all higher, while other island communities fare a lot worse with Orkney coming in last with average weekly earnings of £372.4.

Mr Mackay commented: “The local oil industry, notably the Sullom Voe terminal, is undoubtedly the main reason for the relatively high rankings.”