This
project is financed by the LSC, SEEDA and
the European Social Fund
REGIONAL
ECONOMY/LABOUR MARKET
STRUCTURE
OF EMPLOYMENT
The latest
update of Annual Population Survey data
(for April 2005 to March 2006 is available.
The data is a very broad indicator from
which
industrial sector's future demand for skills
might come.
19.0% of the working
age population in the South East are employed in
banking, finance and insurance, which is higher than
for Great Britain as a whole (15.9%).
The South East as a region
has slightly lower proportions of the working age
population employed in the manufacturing (11.7%)
compared to Great Britain (13.2%) and public admin,
education and health sectors (27.2% compared to the
GB region as 28.4%).
Click
here for further information on the structure of employment.
ANNUAL EARNINGS – ANNUAL
SURVEY OF HOURS AND EARNINGS 2006 New data from the latest Annual Survey
of Hours and Earnings has just been released
on NOMIS. Full time workers in the South
East have higher gross annual earnings than
any other region in Great Britain apart from
London. The median full time gross annual
earnings for 2006 in the South East were £26,001
compared to £23,707 nationally. For
a fuller comparison of South East and national
figures as well as male and female annual
earnings in the South East click
here.
CLAIMANT COUNT- UNEMPLOYMENT
Claimant count unemployment (as a proportion
of the working age population) in the South
East is comparatively low. The claimant count
records the number of people claiming JSA
and National Insurance credits at Job Centre
Plus local offices. In regards to figures,
nationally only the South West (1.6%) has
as low a rate as the South East, (1.6%) and
the South East is below the 2.6% figure for
Great Britain as a whole. Further national
and regional information on JSA claimant
counts can be accessed by clicking
here and
going through to our website.
The most recent figures for
the estimated resident population of the UK have been
released. The estimated resident
population of an area includes all people who usually
live there, whatever their nationality. The population
estimates are based on the Census of Population (2001)
and calculated annually – the previous years’ population
is ‘aged on’ by one year, with births added
and deaths removed. There is also an adjustment for net
migration. This adjustment is the most difficult to estimate
accurately, and can affect some areas with high migration
more than others.
The population for the South East is estimated at 8,164,200
and the United Kingdom estimate topped 60 million for
the first time, at 60.2 million (ONS, August 2006).
For the estimated population of the South East by area,
and discussion on the use and accuracy of the population
estimates, please click
here to visit the website.
ANNUAL
BUSINESS INQUIRY – EMPLOYEE
ANALYSIS The latest ABI employee data
show that the South East has comparatively fewer people
working in manufacturing
compared to the England and GB averages. The same is
also the case for public administration, health and education
and to a lesser degree, for the construction industry
(even though there may be a high level of construction
output, many construction firms come into the region
to work). Click
here for more information.
According to the Office of National
Statistics, VAT registrations are the best official guide
to the pattern of business
start-ups and closures
across the UK and in each industry – although they cannot give
a complete picture of the activity across the economy. In 2004 (relating
to the latest statistics) the VAT registration threshold was an annual
turnover of £56,000.
The stock of VAT registered businesses in the South East Region totalled
287,175 at the end of 2004 (latest data). The South East has a higher
stock than any other region in the country including London (the latter
having just over 250,000 registered businesses) (ONS NOMIS).
In the SE as a whole, a higher proportion of vacancies in administrative
occupations and sales occupations were notified to Jobcentre Plus compared
to Great Britain overall. 18% of all notified jobs in the SE were in
Sales. Click
herefor more detail
Summary of vacancies: In November 2005, Jobcentre Plus has a total of
25,532 notified vacancies in the South East. (ONS, 2005).
Two thirds of the jobs are full time with the remaining third part-time
opportunities. The vast majority of notified vacancies are standard vacancies
(leading to employment rather than self-employment). Time series analysis
is not possible due to changes in the way Jobcentre Plus processes vacancies.
