Warwickshire Investment Partnership - Workforce
Workforce Summary
Warwickshire County has a population of over 530,000, with a working age population of 322,900. Over 81% of Warwickshire`s working age population are economically active, higher than the national average. 54% of the economically active population are male. Of those in employment 38,300 are self-employed with over a third of them female.
In 2008, there were 59,400 economically inactive people in Warwickshire with 10,600 of them seeking a job. The claimant rate is below both the West Midland and UK average.
The majority of Warwickshire`s workforce is employed within the management and professional sectors, 119,500 sitting within Groups 1-3 of the SOC 2000 groupings. 33,400 are employed within the skilled trade sector which accounts for 12.7% of the overall workforce, well above both the national and regional percentage. 16.6% of Warwickshire`s labour force sits in SOC 2000 Group 8-9 which are machine operatives and elementary labour.
Warwickshire has a well regarded, skilled and educated workforce with over 50% achieving NVQ Level 3 and above. This is well above the national average and is one of the highest rates in the whole of the West Midlands. 103,800 people in Warwickshire are educated to at least degree level or above.
Students at the Universities of Coventry and Warwick (2007/08) collectively account for over 29% (48,810) of the West Midlands overall student population, with the University of Warwick being the second most popular Under Graduate and Post-Graduate university in the region. The regions` universities in 2007/08 produced over 50,000 graduates, with the Universities of Coventry and Warwickshire accounting for over a quarter of all graduates in the West Midlands, many staying locally.
With over 50,000 professionals working in the real estate, property and business industries, Warwickshire has a large amount of its economically active working in the professional sector. However, Warwickshire has a strong heritage and skill base in manufacturing and engineering especially in the north of the county.
Another industry sector Warwickshire has particular strengths in is tourism. Many of Warwickshire`s residents are involved in tourism, hospitality, food and drink, with particular strengths in the popular tourist destinations of Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick.
Across the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire (CSW) sub-region, a number of knowledge based industries use the population`s high skills and academic excellence. ICT industries employ over 58,000 people in CSW, whilst automotive and aerospace companies employ over 40,000 people.
Training and Recruitment Initiatives
Colleges in the area, such as Warwickshire College and North Warwickshire & Hinckley College, offer call centre and contact centre training courses, which can be adapted to suit the specific needs of a company.
The Graduate Advantage Scheme, part funded by European Regional Development Fund, is a regional scheme that organises work experience placements and leadership and management training for first-line managers or graduates.
