Anxiety over the economy on the rise among Scots, survey finds

Healthcare and the cost of living remain the top priorities of the public as economic pessimism grows, a survey shows.

The Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker, produced by the Diffley Partnership and David Hume Institute, also saw immigration enter the top five issues raised by participants for the first time.

The latest survey found that healthcare and the cost of living remain the most pressing issues, cited by about half (49%) and more than a third (36%) of people respectively.

The next most cited issue is poverty (17%), while immigration is also now ranked as a top issue by 16% of Scots.

The tracker surveys Scots every quarter to measure behaviours and attitudes towards society, the economy and the environment.

The second edition of 2025 found nearly 60% of Scots now believe that Scotland is heading in the wrong direction, a significant increase from earlier this year.

Scott Edgar, senior research manager at the Diffley Partnership, said: “Over the last 12 months we have been seeing a shift in public concerns as economic anxiety continues to grow across Scotland.

“For the first time in four years immigration has joined healthcare and the cost of living as one of the key issues for Scots.

“As the 2026 Scottish Parliament election approaches, political parties will be tracking voter sentiment towards those issues that are causing concern for voters.

“Meanwhile, voters will be looking for politicians to offer solutions that address the immediate economic challenges and improve financial stability across the country.”

Susan Murray, from the David Hume Institute, said: “These findings confirm too many Scots are struggling, unable to absorb even small financial shocks. This doesn’t just harm their wellbeing, it undermines our collective economic potential.

“A resilient economy needs more financially secure households. The majority of the public clearly understand this connection with strong support for fair wages and a robust safety net.

“Sadly, despite some economic indicators beginning to change, few Scots can see any light at the end of the tunnel.

“It is not surprising to see immigration entering the top concerns for the first time, given all the media attention.

“But with an aging population and falling birth rate, Scotland needs immigration to support our work force – for those equally concerned about the economy and healthcare we need a better plan for how to square the circle.”