Newport City Council - Workforce
Workforce Summary
The resident population of Newport is 140,700, with 63,900 classed as economically active.
The population is changing due to natural change and net inward migration. Figures on the structure of the population by age group show that in comparison with the national picture, Newport has a slightly younger population, with 25% in the under 19 age groups, compared with 24% nationally.
The City Council`s plans are to facilitate a substantial increase in population over the next few years. The Newport Unitary Development Plan projects the population rising to 148,000 by 2011. However, the more conservative population projections from the Welsh Assembly Government 2006 Mid Year Estimate put the population at 143,500 in 2011. These may be more representative during the current economic slow down.
Figures provided for the Office for National Statistics` recent assessment of locations for their move from London, showed Newport had a higher working age population within 30 minute drive time of the city centre than Cardiff or Bristol.
Journey to work figures demonstrate the attraction of Newport as a sub regional employment centre. 43% of the workforce travels in from outside the city, the second highest net in-commuting in Wales. The resident population within a 30 minute drive time of central Newport is 755,044, which includes 478,609 economically active. The population within a 60 minute drive time is 2,499,514, with 1,623,548 economically active.
Latest figures show there are 74,000 people employed in Newport. There has been a change in the structure of employment, with a move away from manufacturing and construction to the service sector, though the manufacturing sector still remains more significant for employment locally than nationally.
A 2007 DTZ Labour Market Survey, commissioned by Newport City Council and International Business Wales, to assess the capacity for Newport`s labour market to absorb further inward investment in the office services sector, showed:
- Newport`s labour force and vast commuter belt has the capacity to absorb further jobs.
- Few problems have been experienced recruiting lower skilled and lower wage positions in particular. Recruitment in Newport was viewed to be relatively easy compared with experiences in other parts of the UK.
- The quality of candidates was viewed to be strong.
- The company offering a lower salary (£11,400 for contact centre role) had a more negative view of recruitment and higher rates of attrition (3%).
- A company recruiting highly skilled communications staff and offereing higher salaries (£38,000 p.a.), experienced lower attrition but invested more time to fill these posts.
The workforce has experience across a wide range of sectors including the public sector, financial and business services, telecommunications, manufacturing, engineering and aerospace.
The annual output of all first degree graduates from the six universities within 30 miles of Newport is just over 17,000.
