Economy to grow

A HIGHLAND economist is predicting above average growth for Shetland during 2013.

In his latest Scottish Economy Report, consultant Tony Mackay says Scotland’s overall output would grow by 1.5 per cent.

However Aberdeen (+2.3 per cent), Aberdeenshire (+2.0 per cent), and Shetland (+1.8 per cent) should outshine the rest of Scotland due to the ongoing boom in the North Sea oil and gas industry.

Mackay added that the boom in the industry was likely to continue for the next few years.

Unemployment in Shetland continues at the very low level of 1.5 per cent.

In 2012, the Scottish economy shrunk by 0.2 percent, however economic output in Shetland grew in the period by 0.9 per cent.