The Geography of Poor Skills and Access to Work

By Anne Green and David Owen

Despite employment growth, high levels of worklessness persist for some people and in some places.

Substantial investment has been made to raise the skills levels of those who are most disadvantaged and skills policy is being embedded in regional and local economic development strategies. This study analyses statistics from the 2001 Census on access to work for people with poor skills in the context of important changes in the industrial and occupational profile of employment and the location of jobs. It finds:

There are substantial numbers of jobs at the lower end of the labour market with limited skills requirements despite an overall increase in the share of employment accounted for by managerial, professional and associated jobs needing higher level skills.

Geographical variations in the occupational structure of employment have become more pronounced over time. London and surrounding areas in southern England have the greatest concentrations of jobs in occupations associated with higher level skills.

The percentage of people in employment varies noticeably at regional and local levels. London and local areas in Scotland and northern England with a manufacturing or mining heritage have amongst the lowest percentages of employed people.

Both people- and place-based factors influence participation in work: people with no qualifications are less likely to be in work than those with higher level qualifications - especially in more depressed local labour market areas.

The majority of people commute only a short distance to work, but those in occupations associated with low levels of skill typically travel shorter than average distances.

The researchers conclude that geography matters most for people with poor skills. Those with poor skills have fewer opportunities and face more constraints in the labour market - both in skills terms and geographically - than their more highly skilled counterparts. The quantity and quality of jobs available locally is of particular importance for low skilled people.

(Joseph Rowntree Foundation)