Towns and cities in the North East are performing better for jobs and skills than they were a year ago but are still trailing most other parts of the country, a new report suggests.
The Demos-PwC Good Growth for Cities Index ranks 51 of the United Kingdom’s largest cities and towns based on economic measures that include jobs, health, income, safety, and skills, as well as work-life balance, housing, travel-to-work times, income equality, high street shops, environment, and business startups. Newcastle, Middlesbrough & Stockton, and Sunderland have all shown improved performance in terms of skills and jobs. However, they remain ranked in the bottom 10 of the 51 areas studied.
The North East, as a whole, has some of the lowest scores in England for jobs and income. Nevertheless, it scores highly for work-life balance, income distribution, and public safety.
Plymouth is the highest performing city in the annual index, with Bristol rising to second place and Southampton remaining in third place. These cities excelled particularly in income distribution, work-life balance, jobs, and skills.
Richard Podd, market senior partner, stated, “It’s very encouraging to see the region performing well on measures like jobs, skills, and transport. However, there is still more that can be done to improve economic growth in the North East and ensure it has the skills and infrastructure needed for the future. Looking at the region as a whole, cities across the North East perform relatively similarly in each priority in the index, which suggests there is some homogeneity in the challenges and opportunities faced. Working closely with the Tees Valley Combined Authority and the North East Combined Authority, alongside central government, businesses in the North East can have a real impact on delivering local plans that meet the needs of local people.”
The study found that the public are most focused on improving their financial wellbeing. However, historically strong performing cities like Oxford and Milton Keynes have experienced significant declines in scores due to issues in income distribution, housing, and high streets. Additionally, the report highlighted growing inequalities within local areas regarding access to quality education, jobs, and housing.
In summary, while there has been some improvement in jobs and skills in the North East, much work remains to be done to elevate the region’s economic standing on a national level. Collaborative efforts between local authorities and businesses are critical to achieving this goal.