Summary:

This analysis compares Further Education and skills achievements, nationally and across regions, in a range of occupations and sectors with the numbers of jobs currently held in those occupations or sectors, and estimated new vacancies in those occupations and sectors.

The objective is to identify the extent to which there is a match between the supply of new skills and the employer demand for those skills. Data limitations mean that this analysis should not be read to present a precise indication of supply and demand across the economy, but it should enable broad conclusions to be drawn.

Key Findings:

• At a national level, there are significantly fewer jobs / vacancies per skills achievement in the creative industries; hair & beauty; and hospitality, leisure, travel & tourism. This suggests that these sectors have an over-supply of training.
• There are significantly more jobs / vacancies per skills achievement in marketing & sales; supporting teaching & learning in schools; security industries; and fashion & textiles. This suggests that these sectors have an under-supply of training.
• In some occupations / sectors (e.g. construction), there appears to be a north-south divide, with relatively fewer jobs / vacancies per skills achievement in the north of England. However, in other sectors (e.g. health & safety and the security industries), no such divide is evident.
• London has relatively high numbers of vacancies per skills achievement across most occupations / sectors, perhaps reflecting a more dynamic labour market.
• The North East has relatively low numbers of jobs per skills achievement across most occupations / sectors, perhaps reflecting long-standing structural problems in the regional economy.

Key insight: