1. Berkshire Labour Market Update Q1 2019

2. Our quarterly Berkshire Labour Market Updates provide a comprehensive evidence base for the Elevate Berkshire programme. Elevate Berkshire aims to address unemployment and underemployment amongst year-olds to enable some of the ‘hardest to reach’ young people find jobs, stay in work and develop rewarding careers. The first part of the report focuses on young people in the labour market, whilst the second part provides contextual information about the Berkshire labour market as a whole. Caroline
About this report

3. Contents Part 1 – Berkshire’s youth labour market
Elevate Berkshire cohort
Youth unemployment
Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
Job market for entry level positions
Job opportunities
Job losses
Part 2 – Labour market trends
Labour market overview by local area
Employment, unemployment and inactivity trends
Jobseekers
Job market
Skills in demand
Contents

4. Key messages for Elevate Berkshire partners
This report is intended to be used as a reference document to help develop local intervention strategies and monitor progress.
The reports include data on:
The size of the Elevate Cohort
16/17 year olds Not in Education, Training or Employment
Most frequently advertised entry level jobs
Please note, some datasets include full-time students and others do not. Please take this into account when interpreting findings.
Key messages for Elevate Berkshire partners

5. Overview The Berkshire Labour Market – Winter 2019
The UK labour market continues to expand despite the uncertainties surrounding Brexit. Employment rates are at a record high and unemployment is at its lowest rate for 42 years.
In Berkshire, employment rates remain high, and unemployment and economic inactivity low. Employment and unemployment rates are now back at their strong pre-recession (2008) levels.
The overall size of the Elevate Berkshire cohort (unemployed or economically inactive year olds who are not full-time students) stands at approximately 10,150*.
The top three occupations for job postings during the fourth quarter of 2018 were: office & administrative assistants, account managers /representatives and software developer engineers.
* This is based on survey data and is therefore subject to a degree of sampling variability.
Overview

6. Berkshire’s youth labour market

7. Key points The Elevate Berkshire cohort: Unemployed or economically
inactive year olds living in Berkshire
Key points
This graph shows the number of year-olds in Berkshire who are either unemployed or economically inactive and are not full-time students. This is the target cohort for the Elevate Berkshire programme
Between January 2018 and December 2018 there were in the region of 10,150 young people in this cohort at any one point in time, which equates to approximately 1 in 9 of all year-olds
Some of those within the cohort will be unavailable for work. For example, those with caring responsibilities or limiting health conditions
The majority of economically inactive young people are female and aged
The Graph is updated
Source: Annual Population Survey, ONS (students excluded)

8. Unemployment amongst 16-24 year olds living in Berkshire (volume and rate)
Key points
The number of young people in Berkshire who are unemployed* has steadily decreased over the last two years
Berkshire youth unemployment rate has fallen below it’s pre-recession (2008) low for the first time.
*16-24 year olds who are not currently working, but would like to, and have actively sought employment within the last 4 weeks
** Please note, this measure of unemployment includes students
updated
Source: Annual Population Survey**, ONS.
N.B. some fluctuation is due to sampling variation

9. Youth unemployment by Local Enterprise Partnership area - 2018
Key points
Youth unemployment in Berkshire is lower than the national average and is broadly in line with South East regional average
Three Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas have lower youth unemployment than Berkshire in 2018, compared to in 2017 there were six LEPs with lower unemployment.
Data is not available for Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire LEPs due to small sample sizes .
Updated
Source: Annual Population Survey, ONS
Data for the period January 2018 to December 2018

10. Key points Young people claiming unemployment benefit in Berkshire
It is estimated that only 20% of Berkshire’s young people who are unemployed (and are not full-time students) are claiming unemployment benefit (Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit)
The number of claimants has been rising since May 2018.
Since May 2018, all Berkshire JobCentres have been providing Universal Credit Full Service. The design of Universal Credit means that additional people will be counted in Claimant Count data and therefore these figures are likely to rise (irrespective of the performance of the local economy). The changes mean the Claimant Count has become a less reliable indictor of changes in labour market performance at both the local and national level. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) are currently running a consultation on the design of a potential new measure.
Updated
Source: DWP, Claimant Count

11. 16-17 year olds Not in Education, Employment or Training - 2018
Key points
Number of 16 and 17 year olds known to the local authority1
Total number NEET (inc not known)
Proportion NEET (inc not known)
of which known to be NEET
of which activity not known
Bracknell Forest
2,550
610
24% 3%
21%
Reading
3,100
190 6%
Slough
3,570
120 2% 1%
West Berkshire
3,410 80
Windsor and Maidenhead
2,420
470
19%
Wokingham
3,290
180 4%
In addition to data on unemployment, inactivity and benefit claimants, local authorities collect data on year-olds who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
In terms of definitions, a young person could be unemployed but not NEET (because they are undertaking training) or be NEET but not unemployed (because they are not seeking employment)
Excluding Bracknell Forest and Windsor and Maidenhead (where a large amount of activity is not known), Reading has the highest NEET / Activity Not Known figures for year-olds within Berkshire, and West Berkshire the lowest
Source: DfE, NEET and participation: local authority figures. Data relates to December 2017, January 2018 and February 2018
Next update due – June 2019
No updated data released

12. Key points
Most frequently advertised Level 1 / 2 entry level jobs in Berkshire
We can analyse job adverts posted online to get an idea of roles that are in high demand within the local economy and the type of skills they demand
The next few slides provide details on the most commonly advertised entry level jobs at different educational levels
An entry level job is defined as a job that requires 0-2 years experience, and is therefore potentially suitable for young people
This slide provides a list of the most frequently advertised entry level jobs that require applicants to have level 1 or 2 qualifications (e.g. GCSEs, NVQs at levels 1 or 2, Intermediate Apprenticeships)
In 2018, Teaching Assistant topped the list, followed by Personal Care Assistant and Chef
Teaching Assistant
Maintenance Engineer
Personal Care Assistant
Apprentice Administrator
Chef
Support Worker
Primary School Teacher
Customer Service Advisor
Science Teacher
Teacher
English Teacher
Carpenter
SEN Teacher Assistant
Mechanic
Maths Teacher
Nursery Nurse
Auxiliary Nurse
Hair Dresser
Teacher’s Assistant
Beauty Therapist
Updated
Source: Labour Insight, Burning Glass Technologies, 2019

13. Key points
Most frequently advertised Level 3, 4 and 5 entry level jobs in Berkshire
Beauty Therapist
Spa Therapist
Electrician
Mechanic / MOT Tester
Nursery Nurse
Mechanical Engineer
Chef
Mechanical Design Engineer
Maths Teacher
Contract Manager
Quantity Surveyor
Science Teacher
Maintenance Engineer
Project Manager
English Teacher
Nursery Practitioner
Personal Care Assistant
Sales Engineer
Electrical Engineer
Nursery Room Leader
This slide provides a list of the most frequently advertised entry level jobs that require applicants to have level 3, 4 or 5 qualifications (e.g. A-levels, NVQs at levels 3, 4 or 5, Advanced Apprenticeships, Higher Apprenticeships, HNCs, HNDs and Foundation Degrees)
Beauty Therapist tops the list again, followed by Electrician and Nursery Nurse
updated
Source: Labour Insight, Burning Glass Technologies, 2019

14. Key points Staff Nurse Sales Engineer Accounts Manager Data Analyst
Most frequently advertised Level 6 and above entry level jobs in Berkshire
This slide provides a list of the most frequently advertised entry level jobs that require applicants to have level 6 or above qualifications (i.e. degree level or higher)
Staff Nurse tops this list, followed by Accounts Manager and Quantity Surveyor
Staff Nurse
Sales Engineer
Accounts Manager
Data Analyst
Quantity Surveyor
Social Worker
Software Development Engineer
Solutions Architect
Sales Manager
Marketing Manager
Software Developer
Business Analyst
Business Development Executive
Recruiting Consultant
Sales Executive
Accountant
Java Software Developer
Primary School Teacher
Sales Representative
Technical Support Engineer
Updated
Source: Labour Insight, Burning Glass Technologies, 2019

15. Berkshire’s labour market trends (all ages)

16. Key points Comparative picture of Berkshire’s labour market – 2017/18
Labour supply
Labour demand
Population
Employment
Unemployment
Economic inactivity
Claimant Count
Jobs
Earnings
16-64 (000s)
Total 16+ (000s)
Rate (%)
Level
Proportion (%)
Total (000s)
Jobs Density (ratio)
Resident
Workplace
(£)
England
34,729
27,224
75.4
1,175
4.2
16,167
21.3
739,583
2.1
30,323
0.87
575
South East
5,559
4,530
78.0
160
3.5
2,569
19.2
76,148
1.4
4,886
615
589
THAMES VALLEY BERKSHIRE
570
471
79.8 15
3.1
220
17.6
6,486
1.1
580
1.01
652
681
Bracknell Forest 77 68
85.0 1
1.7 26
13.5
642
0.8 71
0.91
609
683
Reading
110 87
77.1 4
4.5 42
19.3
2,058
1.9
120
1.10
613
657
Slough 96 73
74.5 3 33
22.2
1,453
1.5 92
0.97
605
679
West Berkshire 83
82.2
2.9 39
15.3
910
0.9
108
1.11
632
684
Windsor and Maidenhead 91
80.9 2
2.6
16.9
740 93
720
663
Wokingham
100
80.7
2.2
17.5
0.7 95
0.94
737
719
Bordering local authorities
Basingstoke and Deane
112
101
87.5 !
12.5
1,135
1.0
0.83
624
Hart 54 48
86.5
5.0 21
8.9
262
0.4
670
623
Hillingdon
199
153
75.2 7
4.1 76
21.6
2,573
1.3
215
1.09
607
614
Runnymede 59 45
72.0 25
26.7
383 63
647
South Bucks 35
81.4 19
17.9
286
1.08
735
South Oxfordshire 84 72
81.3
2.5 37
16.6
686
0.90
699
573
Spelthorne 56
86.9 18
11.3
559 44
0.71
628
608
Surrey Heath 43
80.0 28
16.5
328
0.6 65
1.20
742
582
Test Valley 64
82.7 34
14.8
571 66
0.89
662
574
Vale of White Horse 79 62
75.3 41
22.3
768 74
0.93
645
Wiltshire
291
247
79.7 8
3.2
139
17.7
4,150
259
562
534
Wycombe
106 89
78.9
4.8
17.1
1,293
1.2 99
622
Berkshire has a higher employment rate, and lower unemployment and economic inactivity rates than both the national and regional averages
Within Berkshire, Bracknell Forest has the highest employment rate (85%) and Slough the lowest (74.5%)
Unemployment rates range from 4.5% in Reading to 1.7 % in Bracknell Forest.
Slough and Reading are the only Berkshire local authority areas with unemployment rates higher than the regional average
Economic inactivity rates vary quite a bit across Berkshire, from 22.2% in West Berkshire to 13.5% in Bracknell Forest. People can be economically inactive for a wide range of reasons. The high figure in Reading is likely due to the higher concentration of students.
In four of Berkshire’s six local authority areas, workplace earnings are higher than resident earnings. The exceptions being Windsor and Maidenhead and Wokingham.
Updated
Table LI01 LOCAL AUTHORITY
Table LI05 LEP
Source: Annual Population Survey, ONS

17. Trends in employment, unemployment and economic inactivity
Key points
Employment rates have risen steadily in Berkshire over the last four year and now stand at 79.8%
Unemployment and economic inactivity rates have declined steadily
These trends mirror the national trend
The next three slides show the longer term trends in employment and unemployment
Updated
Source: Annual Population Survey, 2019, ONS

18. Employment rate trends from 2004 to 2018
Key points
Berkshire’s employment rate (in blue) has, broadly speaking, been rising since 2011
This mirrors the national picture
Berkshire’s employment rate has now surpassed its pre-recession peak
Berkshire’s employment rate is approximately five percentage points high than the national rate
Updated
Source: Annual Population Survey, ONS

19. Unemployment rate trends from 2004 to 2018
Key points
Unemployment rates in Berkshire have, broadly speaking, been falling since mid 2009
It took longer for England’s unemployment rate to start falling post recession, doing so in mid 2013
Berkshire’s unemployment rate has now fallen below its pre-recession low.
Updated
Source: Annual Population Survey, ONS – Model based estimates

20. Unemployment rate trends from 2004 to 2018 by local authority
Key points
Within Berkshire, unemployment is once highest in Reading.
During the recession, unemployment rates rose highest in Slough, reaching a peak of nearly 10%. The rate then dropped considerably by 2015
Unemployment rates in Reading and Slough is over 4%, the remaining four local authority areas are very low (less than 3%)
Updated
Source: Annual Population Survey, model-based estimates, ONS
N.B. some fluctuation is due to sampling variation

21. Jobseekers
Key points
Understanding who is seeking work and why people are economically inactive in Berkshire
Currently, approximately 33,100 people in Berkshire are not working but would like to
Of these, 45% are actively seeking work and are therefore classified as being unemployed
The main reason for people being economically inactive in Berkshire is that they are looking after family or home, followed by being a student
A much lower proportion are inactive due to long-term sickness in Berkshire than the national average
*Those who ideally want a job but haven’t sought work in the last few weeks. This includes people with caring responsibilities who may struggle to find work to fit around those responsibilities.
Reason for being economically inactive
Thames Valley Berkshire
South East
England
Who want a job
18.4
20.8
22.6
Who do not want a job
81.6
79.2
77.4
Student
27.8
27.1
27.2
Looking after family/home
28.5
24.4
24.2
Long-term sick
15.4
21.9
18.5
Retired
13.2
12.9
15.3
updated
Source: Annual Population Survey, January 2018 – December 2018, ONS

22. Most frequently advertised job vacancies in Berkshire, Q4 2018
Key points
Position
Occupation
Changes in ranking from Q3 2018 1
Office / Administrative Assistant
Up 3 places 2
Account Manager / Representative
No change 3
Software Developer Engineer
Down 2 places 4
Customer Service Representative 5
Project Manager 6
Registered General Nurse (RGN)
Down 1 place 7
Sales Manager 8
Chef
Up 1 place 9
Computer Support Specialist 10
Recruiter
No Change
In Q4 of 2018, Office / Administrative Assistant were in highest demand across Berkshire, followed by Account Manager / Representative and Software Developer Engineer.
Occupations moving up the rankings from the previous quarter included office / administrative assistants; customer service representatives and chefs.
Updated
Source: Labour Insight, Burning Glass Technologies, 2019

23. General skills in highest demand in Berkshire, 2018
Key points
Communications skills are by far the highest ‘general skill’ demanded by Berkshire employers
Organisational skills and Planning are ranked second and third, followed by Detailed-Orientated .
General skills in highest demand in Berkshire, 2018
updated
Source: Labour Insight, Burning Glass Technologies, 2019

24. Specialist skills in highest demand in Berkshire, 2017 and 2018
Key points
Specialist skills in highest demand in Berkshire, 2017 and 2018
Customer service skills topped the specialist skills ranking in 2018 for the fourth year in a row, followed by Teamwork / Collaboration Sales
Customer Service and Teamwork / Collaboration Sales were the ‘highest climbers’ between 2017 and 2018
A smaller proportion of job postings required people with ‘Building Effective Relationships’ skills in 2018 than in 2017
Updated
Source: Labour Insight, Burning Glass Technologies, 2019

25. Computing skills in highest demand in Berkshire, 2018
Key points
Microsoft Excel skills remain the most commonly sought computing skill of Berkshire employers
Programming languages in highest demand in 2018 were SQL, Javascript, LINUX and Java.
Computing skills in highest demand in Berkshire, 2018
Updated
Source: Labour Insight, Burning Glass Technologies, 2019

26. Other research publications
The following labour market and business research publications can be found on the Thames Valley Berkshire LEP website, here:
Apprenticeships in Berkshire
Business in Berkshire
Berkshire Economic Update
LMI for Schools
Thames Valley Berkshire Skills Priority Statement
Impact of the Apprenticeship Levy
Other research publications