More than one in ten adults in Glasgow have never had a job, paid or unpaid, in their life according to new figures.

The city with a population of more than half a million adults has 55,000 people who have never worked.

Glasgow’s rate, which is 11.1%, is not far away from double the Scottish figure of 6.7% who have never worked.

The report covers over 16s but excludes those up to the age of 24 who are in full time education at school, college or university.

The number of lifetime jobless in the city has increased in the last decade from 27,400 in 2005 but is a fall from the highest figure of 63,000 in 2012.

Only Dundee has a similar rate at 11.2% with just under 14,000 in the same situation.

Glasgow is home to tens of thousands of people who are on long term sickness benefit and may be one reason for the higher number of lifetime jobless in the city.

Last year there were 111,700 economically inactive adults of working age in the city, including, students, those who retired but not yet of state pensionable age, long term sick and people looking after a relative.

Almost 35,000 were long term sick, and 19,000 were looking after someone.

There were 36,000 students and 8,000 retired and 9000 classed as other.

The lifetime jobless also include young people not in education or training so includes some teenagers looking for their first job after leaving education which only accounts for around two to three thousands a year.

In 2014 there were 2270 teenagers aged 16-19, not in education or training(Neet) the lowest in a decade and down almost 1000 from 2005.

Keith Brown the new Economy Secretary said the picture for young people was improving.

He said: “We are seeing encouraging progress with more young people finding work across most of Scotland, with the youth employment rate increasing by three percentage points last year.

“Within the first 100 days of this Scottish Government we will build on the progress we have made with a new Labour market strategy to focus our efforts and target a further reduction in youth unemployment.

“The Scottish economy has a number of fundamental strengths that will be crucial for the future. Increased inward investment, combined with a resilient labour market and talented workforce, is positive news for our jobs market and our economy as whole.”

The Tories however warned that across Scotland the number of Neets was increasing and linked it to college cuts.

Murdo Fraser, conservative finance spokesman said: “These statistics should focus minds within the Scottish Government.

“The UK Government has worked very hard to ensure economic recovery, and we can’t have young people in Scotland missing out on that because the SNP doesn’t value college education.”