Milton Keynes has been described as ‘one to watch’ in a national report.
The report, by the independent think-tank Centre for Cities, has listed the town alongside London and Aberdeen as places that can weather the current economic climate.
The report was released at the end of January, on the day of the new town’s ‘45th birthday’.
The Cities Outlook report stated: “Some cities such as London, Aberdeen and Milton Keynes are well placed to support the creation of the jobs and growth that will address the UK’s unemployment challenge.”
It also reported that the general skills set was high, with a third of the working population possessing high level qualifications, and pointed out that unemployment fell locally, from 3.9 per cent in 2010 to 3.8 per cent in 2011.
The average weekly wage has also increased in Milton Keynes, from £515 in 2010, to £538 last year and currently £561.
Council Leader Andrew Geary said: “We’re always confident that Milton Keynes remains one to watch, and this latest report from Centre for Cities is most welcome.
“We are a pioneering, ‘can do’ city which thinks differently, but we also have our feet on the ground.
“We have become a solid business base for thousands of companies, including many big household names which have staked their futures and their reputations on Milton Keynes, and we continue to possess all the right ingredients to attract new inward investment.
“A combination of the right skill sets and our knowledge based economy, as well as numerous business start ups mean that Milton Keynes is still in a very strong position to continue to thrive, even in the face of very tough economic challenges.”