Partnership Conference on Employment

“Tackling Inequalities”

Renfrewshire’s Economy

David MartinChief Executive, Renfrewshire Council

Invest in Renfrewshire is a commitment between Renfrewshire Council and the area’s

business community to reduce youth unemployment and grow the local economy.

All people in Renfrewshire 174,300

All Working Age (16-64) 113,300 Renfrewshire %

Scotland %

◦ Economically Active 86,600 77.2 77.0

Of which:◦ In Employment (total) 80,600 71.7 71.0

◦ In Employment (employees) 71,300 63.9

62.7 ◦ In Employment (self employed) 8,400 7.1 7.6

◦ Unemployed and looking for work 7,000 8.0 7.7

◦ Economically Inactive 25,100 Of which:◦ Wants a job 5,700

Looking back to pre-recession figures...

how have we fared?

% o

f people

in e

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ym

ent

In Employment – made up of “employees” and “self-employed”

The rise in employment in Renfrewshire is primarily due to the increase in those securing work as employees

Self employment rates are still lower in Renfrewshire but this has significantly improved over the last year.

% o

f people

who a

re s

elf e

mplo

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% o

f people

who a

re u

nem

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How has our position changed over the last 2 years?

% o

f young p

eople

unem

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yed

June 2012: 10.4% Renfrewshire ranked 26th out of 32 local authorities for youth unemployment.

June 2013: 8.6% Renfrewshire ranked 23rd out of 32

June 2014: 5.8% Renfrewshire ranked 19th out of 32

Adult (25 – 49) unemployment rate drops from 5.4% to 3.7%:

Renfrewshire previously 1.3% higher than national average, now 0.9% higher

Renfrewshire's “ranking” moves from 26th to 23rd in Scotland for adult unemployment

Adult (50+) unemployment rate drops from 2.6% to 2.2%

The gap between the Renfrewshire and national figures has not changed : still 0.5% higher

Renfrewshire's “ranking” has improved slightly from 26th to 25th in Scotland for older adult 50 + unemployment

All very positive news.

However....

Ferguslie Ferguslie %

Renfrewshire %

Total 995 34.7 % 17.2 %

Job seekers 230 8.0 % 3.8 %

ESA + incapacity

470 16.4 % 8.7 %

Lone parents 125 4.4 % 1.2 %

Carers 90 3.1 % 1.3 %

Other income related benefit

10 0.3 % 0.3 %

Disabled 60 2.1 % 1.5 %

Bereaved 10 0.3 % 0.3 %

October 2013 figures

% unem

plo

yed

Commission for Developing Scotland's Young Workforce:

Care Leavers ◦ (In 2013 1 in 3 were unemployed 9 months after

leaving school)

Black and Ethnic Minority Groups◦ (In 2012/13 less than 2% of MA starts were from non-

white BME groups)

People with a disability ◦ (In 2012 only 41.3% were employed)

New Developments

A range of infrastructure projects capable of generating significant economic benefit for the Glasgow City Region.

Projects under consideration in Renfrewshire include:

a. Glasgow Airport Investment Zone

b. Clyde Waterfront / Renfrew North

c. Glasgow airport rail link

A programme to improveemployment is alsounder consideration tackling:

- health and unemployment- youth unemployment- In Work Progression

Paisley Town Centre: Heritage Regeneration Strategy Arnotts development Westpoint Homes Russell Institute

Johnstone Town Centre New Town Hall and civic hub

Braehead £200million investment that will

create 5,000 jobs

ROF Bishopton◦ 40,000sqft retail store at the

centre of the emerging Dargavel Village

  Tesco Linwood

◦ over 250 new jobs

Renfrew Road Retail Park◦ 150 - 200 new jobs

Retail Improvement Scheme◦ Over 60 Shops supported across

Renfrewshire

Encourage investment

No impediments to business growth or inward investment