Over the current parliamentary term, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have each faced unique challenges as well as common ones, such as rising economic inactivity. Measures of output, productivity and the labour market indicate where the devolved nations could improve their economic prospects.
Each of the three devolved nations has had a new leader in the past year, with the appointments of Vaughn Gething in Wales and of Michelle O'Neill in Northern Ireland, where the parties reached a power-sharing agreement following a long period without a government. Scotland will soon have another new first minister following the recent resignation of Humza Yousaf after just over a year in the role.
The devolved nations all face significant economic challenges, which are likely to inform voters’ choices at the time of the election. This article looks at these challenges and how the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish economies have fared in recent years.