> In the year up to June 2010, around 2.6 million, or 78.4% of the working age population, were classed as economically active in the South West, the third highest rate in the country after the South East (79.1%) and East (78.8%). The region has consistently performed well on this measure over the last ten years.
> Sub-regionally, economic activity rates range from 74.0% in Cornwall to 82.8% in South Gloucestershire (July 2009 – June 2010).
> The region has an ageing population. In 2009, 19.4% of the population was aged over 65 (England 16.2%) and by 2033 this is predicted to rise to 27.0% (England 22.6%).
> Between Q3 2009 and Q3 2010 (latest), unemployment in the region fell from a peak of 6.5% of the population aged 16 or above to 5.5% (148,000 individuals). The SW unemployment rate remains the lowest of all the English region
> Based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS) measure, unemployment in SWE’s sub-regions ranged from 3.7% in South Gloucestershire to 9.9% in Torbay, in the year up to June 2010.
> The number and proportion of individuals claiming unemployment related benefits has increased following the onset of the recession, rising from 1.2% of the working age population in April 2008 to peaks of 3.0% in April 2009, January 2010 and February 2010 – an additional 57,292 claimants. At the end of 2010, the rate was 2.4% compared to a national rate of 3.4% (which peaked at 4.1% in January and February 2010). SWE saw the joint lowest percentage point increase in claimants amongst the regions during the recession. Claimant rates are now falling in the region.
> The largest sub-regional percentage point decrease in claimant rate between November 2009 and November 2010 was in Swindon, recording a 1.2 percentage point fall (4.4% to 3.2%). Bristol recorded the lowest percentage point fall of just -0.1 percentage points.
> Between July 2009 and June 2010, 693,600 people worked part-time in the South West – 28.8% of all of those in employment in the region - compared to an English average of 25.6%. Women were almost four times more likely to work part-time than men in the region.
> 14.0% of those in employment in the region are classed as self-employed – the second highest rate among the English regions after London and 0.9 percentage points above the England average.
> Between 2000 and 2008, an additional 250,000 jobs were created in the SW region. Cornwall and Devon saw the largest increases with 39,700 and 54,600 jobs created respectively.
> The largest percentage growth in employment in SWE between 2000 and 2008 was recorded in business and financial services, which saw a 32.2% increase compared to the GB average of 19.3%.
> Around 12.3% of the region’s workforce is employed in skilled trade occupations – the highest proportion of all English regions. SWE has a lower proportion of employment in high value occupations such as professional occupations (13.3% in the South West compared to 14.0% nationally).
> Full-time workers in the South West earn on average (median) £460.00 per week, 91.2% of the English average. The regional distribution ranges from £372.80 in Torbay to £528.50 in South Gloucestershire.
