Occupations
3.57 Occupational makeup of the SW workforce is broadly similar to the English average. Notable differences are in the lower proportion of associate professional occupations in the South West (13.6% vs. 14.4%), similarly in process, plant and machine operators (6.5% vs. 7.1%) but a far higher proportion of skilled trades (12.2% vs. 10.8%). The region has a workforce strong in trade specific skills but less so in the more productive managerial and generic business skills. It is difficult to know to what extent the occupational structure of the region has developed in response to the demand of industry or the supply of skills. What is evident is that the region has a well educated population, some of whom are likely to be working in occupations with relatively low levels of productivity.
