3. Leeds is the UK’s fastest growing city and is the main driver of a city region with a £62.5 billion economy, a combined population of 3 million and a workforce of 1.37 million.
It is the largest centre outside London for financial and business services. Over the next ten years, the economy is forecast to grow by 25% with financial and business services set to generate over half of GVA growth over that period.
Finance and business services account for 38% of total output. Other key sectors include retail, leisure and the visitor economy, construction, manufacturing and the creative and digital industries.
Leeds has one of the most diverse economy of the all the UK’s main employment centres and has seen the fastest rate of private sector jobs growth of any UK city and has the highest ratio of public to private sector jobs of all the UK’s Core Cities.

10. Recruitment need greatest in high skilled and service roles
Labour force is becoming better qualified but still lags
behind England average
Recruitment need greatest in high skilled and service roles
Recruitment need by occupation, , Leeds City Region
Source: Working Futures
Managers, directors and senior officials
Professional
Associate professional and technical
Administrative and secretarial
Skilled trades
Caring, leisure and other service
Sales and customer service
Process, plant and machine operatives

11. Current demand strong for digital, health and business roles
Top 10 occupations by volume of job postings, Leeds City Region, June 2015 to May 2016
Programmers and software development professionals
Other administrative occupations
Nurses
Business sales executives
Web design and development professionals
IT business analysts, architects and systems designers
Sales, accounts and business development managers
Customer service occupations
Care workers and home carers
Management consultants and business analysts

12. Demand in manufacturing for both technical and business roles
Top 10 occupations by volume of job postings, Leeds City Region, June 2015 to May 2016
Production managers and directors in manufacturing
Engineering technicians
Business sales executives
Design and development engineers
Sales accounts and business development managers
Welding trades
Other administrative occupations n.e.c.
Metal working production and maintenance fitters
Programmers and software development professionals
Managers and proprietors in other services