With a workforce of 442,400, Leeds is the major employment centre for the Yorkshire and Humber region and has a VAT-registered stock of 17,400 companies. Economic output stands at over £13 billion per annum, with growth of around 30 per cent forecast over the next ten years. The financial and business service sector is the largest employer, followed by the public sector.
Leeds is one of the UK’s principal manufacturing centres, with around 2,100 companies employing over 45,000 people - around 12 per cent of total employment in Leeds. The sector has adapted to the rapid technological advances driving the manufacturing industry, and as a result, the output of Leeds manufacturing companies has grown by 6 per cent in real terms over the last ten years, with output per worker increasing by 28 per cent.
The city is also a major media centre, with approximately 1,650 companies providing employment for more than 13,000 people in the fields of print, publishing, graphic design, television, radio, film, advertising, marketing, internet provision, e-commerce and public relations. Between 1998 and 2003 the number of people employed in the sector increased by 18 per cent, making Leeds the third largest centre for media and communications outside of London.
Alongside this, recent investment and expansion has seen a 20 per cent growth in retail, with around 11,000 people now employed in city centre shops and associated services. Leeds offers access to one of the largest skilled labour markets in the country, with over one million workers.
The characteristics of the Leeds labour market are particularly well suited to the needs of modern businesses. Strong local traditions in shift work, a willingness to travel, and a high proportion of working women and part-time workers, have enabled operations requiring a flexible and dedicated workforce to flourish in Leeds.
A varied skills base, two universities and a wide range of vocational training facilities ensures that Leeds’ diverse and dynamic economy is well served by a skilled workforce compatible with the most up to date and flexible working practices.
Leeds’ most successful companies emphasise the strong work ethic of local people as a major contributory factor to their continued and often rapid growth within the city.
Employment trends
Over the last 20 years, Leeds has created more jobs than any other major city outside London, where total employment has grown by 10.5 per cent. Of the five largest cities in the UK (Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Manchester), only Leeds demonstrated a net gain in employment over this period, creating over 90,700 new jobs. Total employment is expected to grow by a further 7.1 per cent over the next decade, creating 32,000 new jobs (2005 Leeds Economy Handbook).
Over two million people live within 30 minutes drive of Leeds city centre, making Leeds a major employment provider for adjacent districts, with a net 70,000 in-commuters in 2005. Leeds is a major visitor destination, with the tourism industry supporting 19,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
The average gross weekly earnings for men in Leeds is £477 and for women £378 (Great Britain average is £525 for men and £396 for women - April 2002).