Employment in Yorkshire and Humber - is the region prepared?

One of the region's most important economic issues will come under the spotlight at a public meeting next week.

Employment is the next issue being examined by the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly, as part of its scrutiny role looking at how Yorkshire Forward is working with partners to deliver the Regional Economic Strategy.

Making sure we have the right mix of employers and employees in the future is essential to the region being able to compete successfully in a global economy.

Recent figures show:

• Hull, York and Selby have seen the largest number of jobs lost to the region;
• There are particular issues around employment for Barnsley, Bradford, Doncaster and Hull;
• Just over a third of all jobs lost were from the manufacturing sector;
• Construction, financial and business services and public service sectors industries will see the highest predicted growth in employment;
• The new jobs will be a mix of professional jobs requiring a minimum of NVQ Level 4 and service related jobs which generally require a skill level of NVQ levels 2 and 3;
• Almost 50% of migrant workers from the new member states of the EU came to work in the administrative, business and managerial services.

Over the next four weeks, the Assembly’s Scrutiny Board will be meeting with businesses, Yorkshire Forward Board members and others to understand what the issues are and assess if the region and Yorkshire Forward activities are preparing us effectively for the future.

As part of the scrutiny review, a public discussion is taking place at the Cathedral Hall in Leeds on February 28, where evidence gathered from organisations across Yorkshire and Humber will be on the agenda.

Members of the Scrutiny Board, along with representatives from Yorkshire Forward’s Executive Board will be involved in the discussion, along with partners from business support agencies, local authorities and other regional bodies.

Paul Jagger, Chair of the Assembly’s Scrutiny Board, said: “Employment is key to a successful future and this review will be looking at what lessons can be learnt and how all the work can be best harnessed to ensure the success of the region’s economy."

Employment is the latest issue to come under the spotlight of the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly’s “scrutiny” role required by Government to ensure money spent on economic development is well targeted. A formal report, with any recommendations and an action plan from Yorkshire Forward setting out how they will respond, will be produced by the Assembly later this year.