Private sector must lead jobs recovery
Hull’s businesses must create nearly 20,000 jobs to bring Hull up to the average employment rate Dermot Finch told business leaders at the 27th Quarterly Forum.
Speaking at the KC Stadium last night, the Chief Executive of the Centre for Cities, said Hull had lost hundreds of private sector jobs during the past decade and had one of the highest levels of worklessness in the country. However, he added that Hull’s dependence on public sector employment, although higher than the national average, was not as high as the East Riding or many other areas of the country so Hull could be less likely to feel the impact of the squeeze in public sector spending.
Dermot also spoke of the tight boundary lines which have had a substantial effect on the way Hull appears in league tables of economic performance. He said that if Hull’s boundary was extended by just a few miles into the East Riding then Hull would undoubtedly do better in statistical terms although the issue of being isolated from other major urban economies would still be an issue for the city.
On the issue of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) which are the proposed replacement to Regional Development Agencies, Dermot said Hull had a very strong relationship with the East Riding as the majority of people travelling to work in Hull came from the East Riding whereas only a very small percentage crossed the river from the south bank. He also urged local council leaders to work together for the benefit of the local economy and ensure that local people, particularly young people, are supported through the downturn and the LEP targets the priority issues of employment, skills, transport and housing.
Read the Hull Daily Mail's coverage of the event
