Inverclyde Council pushes migrant settlement to counter Greenock's population decline
Greenock's council is promoting immigration as a strategy to halt the town's shrinking population, while local businesses and residents note a lack of jobs.
Greenock has seen a noticeable rise in African and refugee residents, highlighted by the recent launch of Anik African Store, which sells Nigerian staples alongside another nearby African shop. Facing a decline of 22,000 residents since 1981 and a forecasted 16% drop in the next twenty years, Inverclyde Council has placed attracting migrants at the top of its agenda. Council leader Stephen McCabe claims the influx has begun to stabilise the population, though many locals describe the town as empty and lacking employment, especially after the closure of major employers like IBM and recent shipyard cuts.
Some newcomers work or study in nearby Glasgow, drawn by affordable housing, while others struggle to find work that fits childcare needs. The council offers English classes and employment support, but residents remain skeptical about the sustainability of relying on new arrivals without creating local jobs.
Why it matters
The story shows how a Scottish town is using immigration to address depopulation, highlighting tensions between growth plans and local job scarcity.
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