GLASGOW has made improvements over the last ten years in health and jobs, according to a new study.

While still suffering form high levels of economic inactivity and high rates of heart disease and cancer mortality, the city has made progress and moved up the table of UK cities in the Growth Index report.

The city’s position is largely down to an improvement in the skills of 25 to 64 year olds which has grown at a higher rate than Edinburgh over the last decade.

Also, Glasgow has witnessed a strong improvement in the number of new businesses, higher than the UK average.

Despite the challenges that still remain on health and employment Glasgow has improved its index score on jobs and in the health of its citizens indicating some progress is being made.

The Growth for Cities Index produced by Demos for PwC analyses 42 UK cities including Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

The growth in the number of new businesses has been cited as a crucial factor in improvements being made overall.

Kenny Wilson, office senior partner, Glasgow, at PwC, said: “Glasgow has made enormous strides over the last decade and is viewed as a progressive, modern European city. That is evident in this year’s Good Growth for Cities index, which shows the city performing above average in jobs and skills, but also in work-life balance.

“The creation of new businesses has been integral to this progress, however there is always more work to be done in harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit of Glaswegians and making the most of the great opportunities for new businesses in the city.

“Glasgow’s main challenge remains in reducing the number of people economically inactive due to long-term sickness, while the city also scores below average on owner occupancy in the housing market.”

Glasgow while making improvements is still in the lower half of the Index table at 25 out of 42, but scored higher than average on Job Creation, skills and work-life balance.

Oxford and Reading were the top two cities in the report for the second year in a row with Oxford increasing its lead at the top.

Glasgow was ahead of large comparable English cities like Newcastle, Sheffield and Liverpool and was ahead also of Belfast and Cardiff.

Edinburgh and Aberdeen were in the top ten.