Scotland’s economic challenges are often discussed in terms of poverty, with a focus on the underprivileged due to the country’s glaring social inequalities. While addressing poverty is crucial, there’s another group facing significant strain: the middle class. This demographic, which used to be the backbone of Scotland’s prosperity, is now struggling, often without the same level of attention or recognition.
A generation ago, life was objectively better for the middle class in Scotland. The concept of upward mobility and prosperity seemed almost guaranteed. Many middle-class families enjoyed a solid standard of living, complete with a well-paying job, a house with a garden, and enough disposable income for leisure activities.
But today, the middle class is feeling the pressure. The rise in house prices, stagnant salaries, and increasing costs of living have left many struggling to keep up with the aspirations of the past. It’s not that life is necessarily bad, but it’s certainly not as good as it once was, and nowhere near the expectations many had.
Looking at generational comparisons brings this into sharper focus. My father, with just a BA, had a four-bedroom detached house, two luxury cars, and a family of three kids. He worked a steady 40-hour week and could afford to send us to private schools, shop at M&S, and enjoy activities like golf and clay pigeon shooting. This wasn’t the exception—it was the norm. Now, as a PhD holder, I live in a two-bedroom terraced house with a small garden. I drive a fifteen-year-old economy car and work 50-hour weeks. Despite higher qualifications, the disposable income my father had is a distant dream, and I no longer enjoy the same luxuries he did.
Yet, I still consider myself fortunate. I have a stable job, a roof over my head, and food on the table. But compared to my father’s time, my lifestyle feels underwhelming. Many middle-class families are in the same position—struggling to maintain a lifestyle that once felt attainable but now seems out of reach.
The loss of job security for many in professional careers only adds to the pressure. While our parents’ generation had a sense of stability in their jobs, the middle class today faces a much more uncertain future. The recession of the early 2000s permanently altered the landscape, and many of us feel the impact. Even those with professional qualifications are finding that their salaries no longer go as far as they once did, adding to a growing sense of financial insecurity.
This growing divide between the middle class and the wealthy, coupled with the instability of professional roles, has contributed to widespread frustration. This frustration is often what fuels radical political movements. A quote I once heard resonates: “Revolutions don’t happen when people starve; they happen when lawyers starve.” When the middle class begins to feel the squeeze, while the wealthiest continue to thrive, discontent brews.
Adding insult to injury are the well-meaning but tone-deaf articles advising the middle class to save money by skipping takeaways or making their own lunch. For many, these small luxuries are necessities, and being told to cut them out feels not only unhelpful but insulting.
On top of this, there’s a growing resentment toward government spending. For many in the middle class, taxes no longer feel like a contribution to a better society but a forced payment for wasteful government practices. Public services like the NHS and education seem to be crumbling, and yet middle-class people are asked to give more. The promise of a fair and just society feels increasingly hollow.
This sense of disillusionment is especially tangible among those in their 30s and 40s. There’s a rising individualism, a reluctance to contribute to a system they see as failing. People are becoming more unwilling to fund what they perceive as a broken system. This lack of faith in government and the social contract is dangerous and cannot be ignored. When middle-class families feel like their taxes are being wasted, the very foundation of society starts to erode.
The middle class finds itself stuck in a difficult situation. They aren’t poor, but they’re not thriving either. It’s a feeling of being in a kind of limbo—where the pressures of modern life continue to mount, but there seems to be no clear way forward. The challenge for Scotland is to address these concerns before they become too entrenched to overcome. If the middle class continues to feel abandoned and ignored, the consequences could be far-reaching, harming not just the middle class but society as a whole.
The decline in living standards for Scotland’s middle class is not just a result of rising costs or stagnating wages. It’s also linked to a sense of lost opportunities and growing instability in the job market. As wages stagnate and housing costs continue to rise, the middle class feels increasingly squeezed. Recent reports show that between 2021 and 2022, household income fell across all income distributions outside the top 20%, with the median income falling by 0.5%. After housing costs, median income fell by 1.5%, further exacerbating the challenges many face.
The middle class also finds itself competing with the growing issue of poverty in Scotland, where more than 1 in 5 Scots, including 1 in 4 children, are living in poverty. Despite attempts to tackle poverty, the situation continues to worsen. At the same time, job security for middle-class professionals has eroded. The job market is less stable, and many find themselves working longer hours for less pay than previous generations did.
Housing costs have become another significant strain, particularly in rural areas where living expenses can be 15% to 30% higher than in urban areas. This adds another layer of financial pressure for the middle class, whose disposable income is already stretched thin.
Economic policies by the Scottish National Party (SNP) have come under criticism for exacerbating the situation. Critics, including Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, argue that the SNP’s policies have driven Scotland into economic decline, burdening workers with higher taxes and diminished services. The government’s failure to address the concerns of the middle class only fuels frustration and disillusionment.
In conclusion, Scotland’s middle class is facing a decline in living standards, driven by stagnant incomes, rising costs, and economic policies that have not adequately addressed their needs. The challenges facing the middle class require urgent attention, as the frustration felt by this group risks destabilizing the political and social climate. Addressing these issues will require a shift in focus toward restoring economic stability, job security, and greater fairness in how resources are distributed. Without such changes, the divide between the middle class and the wealthiest will continue to grow, leading to greater societal unrest.
Sources:
Financial Fairness Trust