Derbyshire Labour Market – March 2013

The Derbyshire economy has consistently improved its contribution to the regional and national gross domestic product. Derbyshire's economy is worth around £10.85bn per year and supports a workforce of 275,400.

The key sectors of industry which drive the Derbyshire economy are Advanced Engineering, Construction and Manufacturing, Food and Drink, Research and Development, Tourism and Creative Industries.

Agriculture and Aggregates also play a big part in the County's economic infrastructure with 80% of Derbyshire being classified as rural.

Manufacturing accounts for almost one fifth (18.9%) of all employment, compared to the England average of 8.8%. Three other sectors account for the majority of employment within Derbyshire, these are public sector (31%) and distribution, hotels and restaurants (26.4%) and 23.6% professional and self-employed. Only 14% are employed in medium and large employers.


Investment
Invest in Derbyshire received 25 serious inward investment enquiries between November 2012 and January 2013, an increase on the 17 from the previous quarter. Markham Vale, Derbyshire’s Enterprise Zone has contributed £70m infrastructure growth with more than 170 jobs created during 2012.


Jobs
Latest Jobcentre Plus vacancy data shows a total of 5,543 available jobs in Derbyshire, 62.6% more than in November 2012 and against a national increase of 19.5% a clear indication of a confident private sector. This helps balance public sector job losses, including planned Military redundancies.


Out of Work Benefits
A slightly lower percentage of people than the England average of 12.1% in Derbyshire are claiming Out of Work Benefit at 11.5%, with more than a quarter effected living in Gamesley (High Peak), Ilkeston North (Erewash), Loundsley Green (Chesterfield) and Shirebrook North West (Bolsover).


Adult Skills
A well-qualified workforce is a key factor in enabling the local economy to be competitive. Adult qualifications continue to improve, with Derbyshire having a higher proportion of its workforce with no qualifications than England at 25.7% compared with 22.5%. Shirebrook (Bolsover) and Ilkeston North (Erewash) have had the lowest improvement increase. Areas with the highest qualification increase rate include Hilton (South Derbyshire), Simmondley and Dinting and Burbage (High Peak) and, Duffield and Hathersage and Eyam (Derbyshire Dales).


Unemployment Claimant Count
Currently in Derbyshire 2.9% of people claim job seekers allowance, lower than the 3.6% for England. Since early 2012 unemployment has decreased in Derbyshire greater than nationally, however levels are severely high in Gamesley and Barns (High Peak), Rother (Chesterfield) and Ilkeston North and Ilkeston Central (Erewash).


Not in Education Employment or Training
Overall levels of youth unemployment have declined since early 2012 at 5.4% only marginally higher than the national average 5.3%, and a significant improvement from underperforming both the regional and national average. However, long-term youth unemployment has more than doubled over the last year with 21.3% having been out of work for more than 12 months, although in part thanks to contributions from Derbyshire Conservatives nationally acclaimed 1000 Apprenticeship scheme, again long-term youth unemployment appears to be easing off.

The improvements in youth unemployment are seen in Bolsover, Derbyshire Dales and Amber Valley, with lowest improvements in Chesterfield, South Derbyshire and Erewash.


Economic Climate
With successive quarters of economic growth and positive employment growth, one of the key sectors showing expansion of 7.1% is construction which is likely to reflect new infrastructure investments shortly taking place which include;

• M1 managed motorway between junctions 28 and 31, part of a £1.4bn national road programme

• £500m electrification of the Midland Mainline, including £137m to increase Derby line capacity


Labour Market Participation
Derbyshire has above average levels of labour market participation with an activity rate of 78.7%, higher than the national rate of 76.9%. The county’s employment rate is also higher than average at 72.8%.

http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/images/2013-02-18%20March%202013%20Economic%20Review%20TEMPLATE%20v1%2E0_tcm44-222521.pdf

The provision of broadband infrastructure and digital services to all our communities is key in transforming the economic and social lives of local people.

Broadband is now essential for modern life, like roads, rail, gas and electricity.

Broadband infrastructure is a critical enabler in driving growth in employment, business productivity and skills and promoting areas, like Derbyshire, as prime locations for investment. Access to superfast broadband improves competitiveness allowing firms and entrepreneurs to create new business models, access new markets, stimulate innovation and interact more effectively with customers, partners and suppliers.

Derbyshire’s approach

Derbyshire was allocated £7.39m funding from BDUK for the delivery of the Digital Derbyshire Local Broadband Plan in May 2012.

Since this time the County Council has been leading the way with demand stimulation activities, receiving over 6000 responses to its survey to find out the user experience for current broadband – the best response to any Council consultation.

The businesses and residents in Derbyshire fully support the digital Derbyshire campaign and have shown this by pledging over 4000 registration.

Across the county we are working jointly with our public sector partners on initiatives and campaigns to raise the awareness and more importantly the benefits that reliable and faster broadband can bring to both everyday life and business opportunities. For example Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service visit many both vulnerable households, and business premises annually to undertake fire safety checks, these front line visits will also now include information on what the individuals benefits of having access to broadband would mean and offer further support/advise as necessary.

We are fortunate to have huge support for the Digital Derbyshire programme which enables the Council to do much more.

Over the last year there have been challenges and among these various delays as BDUK resolved issues with state aid and finalise the framework. More locally we have been working with East Midlands Councils to lobby for broadband infrastructure to be an eligible ERDF activity, this has taken over six months but successfully this week the European Commission have approved the change. This means all East Midlands authorities can now apply for ERDF funding to support their Local Broadband Plans.

The LGA is leading the Digital Exploitation Group which Derbyshire is an active member, the groups focus is on using broadband to benefit local authorities and support the move to digital. As a group of authorities funding can be secured to test ideas through pilot projects, and the findings shared.

Locally I have been actively lobbying BT to extend their investment coverage using the evidence gathered from the Councils consultation, this has resulted in more of Derbyshire being included in BT’s commercial roll out, gaining more enabled fibre cabinets (FTTC) than they had originally planned.

At Derbyshire we recognise that the infrastructure is important, however our focus has to be on education, benefits and potential customer demand as without this the infrastructure will not be maximised for the benefit of our residents, businesses and transforming public service delivery.

www.derbyshire.gov.uk/digitalderbyshire