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Enterprise and Employment

A key part of the WDC Policy Team’s work involves:

  • Analysing trends in employment.
  • Identifying enterprise issues for the region.

The way employment is structured in the West increases the region’s vulnerability in a recession. There, more people work in sectors that tend to be low skilled and low value-added than in higher skilled and high value-added sectors. This will present a major challenge to the region in the coming years.
Source: CSO, Quarterly National Household Survey, Quarter 2 (March-May), 2000 and 2008 (special analysis)

Employment and Unemployment in the Western Region 2000-2008

The WDC’s 2008 briefing paper Employment and Unemployment in the Western Region 2000-2008 showed a significant growth in the number of people employed in the Western Region since 2000, with a shift away from agriculture and industry and towards services.
Source: CSO, Quarterly National Household Survey, Quarter 2 (March-May), 2008 (special analysis)
However, this was followed by a substantial decline in jobs, particularly in construction, from 2007-2008. Unemployment levels across all sectors continue to increase and the implications of this are a particular focus for the WDC Policy Team. The Policy Team plays a key role in enhancing employment and enterprise opportunities in the West.
You can download the WDC’s briefing paper here.

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