Southend-on-Sea Borough Council - Workforce
Workforce Summary
The latest data indicates Southend has a population of 164,200 which comprises of 80,000 men and 84,200 women.
The working age population (those aged 16-64) is 103,000 in Southend. This is split more equally and comprises 51,200 men and 51,900 women. 77.6% (82,700) of the working age population is economically active in Southend and this is above the national average. Of those who are economically active 62.1% of the workforce are employees and 9.5% are self employed.
Using the ONS annual population data it is also possible to view the workforce employment structure of Southend. 43.1% of the population work in managerial, professional and technical occupations. 22.5% are employed within administrative, secretarial and skilled trades occupations. 17% work within personal service occupations, sales and customer service. The remaining 17.4% are employed in process plant and machine operatives and elementary occupations.
Education and Qualification
Education and qualifications are important in Southend and they are supported through the broad borough-wide education network. There is a range of schools including twelve mixed comprehensive and bilateral schools as well as four single sex grammar schools which are among the top performing in the country.
Southend has a rapidly expanding Higher Education and Further Education sector, with the £53 million South Essex College (SEC) campus completed in 2005 and the new University of Essex, Southend campus opened in 2007.
SEC and the University of Essex offer a single ladder of educational progression from A-levels and BTECs through to Foundation, Honours, Masters degrees and PhDs. The venture brings together a respected top ten research-based university with a successful and innovative further education college. Southend Adult Community College was the first local authority run college to gain Beacon status in the country.
Availability
Within the borough of Southend there is a working age population of 103,000. Being a relatively small borough means that regardless of location all distances are commutable and are supported by strong transport links. In Southend there are 9 train stations which help connectivity.
Southend businesses also have access to a wider labour force outside of the borough. The neighbouring authorities of Castle Point and Rochford are within easily commutable distances and are well served by road and rail and between them have 106,500 residents of working age. Basildon is slightly further afield but still commutable by train in under 25 minutes and has a working age population of 112,100.
The expansion in higher and further education means that Southend businesses are also in an excellent position to access students and graduates as they complete their courses in Southend providing a fresh wave of new talent.
Labour Costs
Southend benefits from highly competitive workplace labour costs when compared to both the region and nation.
The average full time gross weekly pay by workplace in Southend is £420.2. The regional average is £479.1 and the national figure is £490.2. Southend`s wage growth over the last tens years has fluctuated but overall represents steady growth. The lower labour costs in Southend make it an attractive place to locate. The benefits for Southend residents working in Southend is the saved cost and time in commuting out of the borough while enjoying the benefits of living in Southend . Businesses benefit from lower staff costs while still being in a great location, in close proximity to London and connections throughout the country.
Training and Recruitment Initiatives
Southend has a range of providers in the borough who support businesses in their training objectives. There is a strong ethic of responding directly to what businesses need and creating a programme that is bespoke to them. The range of training support is now extensive from the University of Essex, South Essex College, NOVA Consortium through to Southend Adult Community College, Propects and more. Between them the providers can cover all the needs of business from short courses in I.T skills and health and safety to apprenticeships and up to PhDs.
Job Centre Plus offer recruitment support and initiatives across the country which are similarly available in Southend. In addition to this there are a number of specialist recruitment agencies across Southend and the Council can assist in making contact with these agencies or with the colleges and education providers in the borough.
