Scottish Transport Leaders Gather to Highlight Sector’s £10bn Contribution to Economy

Senior figures from across Scotland’s transport industry have met in Glasgow to discuss the sector’s crucial role in supporting jobs, growth, and communities.

The event followed the release of Connecting Scotland – the Value of Transport, a report which describes transport as an “absolute necessity” for the country’s economy and a vital lifeline for people and businesses.

According to the study, the transport sector underpins more than 150,000 full-time equivalent jobs and generates around £10 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA), accounting for 6–7% of both Scotland’s workforce and GVA. It highlights transport’s central role in connecting people to jobs, enabling the movement of goods—including exports—and supporting industries such as tourism and renewables.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop, who hosted the Scottish Transport Summit, said:“Transport has a transformative impact on people’s lives. It gets goods to market, people to work, and connects communities. Reliable public transport offers an alternative to the car, and the sector as a whole contributes more than £10 billion to our economy and supports around 150,000 jobs. Investing in transport is investing in people.”

She pointed to recent achievements such as free bus travel for under-22s, the reopening of the Borders and Levenmouth railways, the Queensferry Crossing, and the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route as examples of transport’s economic and social benefits.

Hyslop also highlighted progress on sustainable initiatives, including Scotland’s Low Emission Zones, more than 6,000 public EV charge points delivered two years ahead of schedule, 800 zero-emission buses supported through government funding, and the electrification of over 75% of rail passenger journeys.

“For the first time, the Scottish Government will invest over £4 billion in transport in 2025–26,” she added. “By working together across sectors, regions, and communities, we can continue to build a transport system that delivers for the people of Scotland.”