>> An overview

Calderdale Key Facts

• Population 201,800 (2008), predicted to rise by 10,000 by 2015
• Over 8,000 businesses in Calderdale
• Population growth by 2015 - sharp growth in numbers aged 65 to 74, whilst numbers in the 75 to 84 age-group will increase slightly, 85+ group will continue to grow by about 2% a year. The number of under 15s is expected to increase by 4%
• The non-white population is around 10%, below the national average of 11%. Around 33% are under 16 years old compared with about 20% of the white population. Most non-white residents are of Pakistani/Kashmiri origin, living mainly in one area of Halifax, where they comprise more than 50% of the population, with smaller numbers living in Elland and Todmorden
• More men than women are in work, increasing numbers of both men and women work part-time. Increasingly, the workforce is more mobile, with 28% of residents working outside the district and 24% of jobs in Calderdale being filled by people from other areas
• Calderdale’s employment rate is close to the national average, however there are concentrations of unemployment and worklessness
  
• Average pay is below national hourly rates but generally above West Yorkshire averages
• 63.9% of the working age population have Level 2 qualification in Calderdale, slightly above the regional average and just below the England population - 65.4%

Employment trends

• Calderdale is slightly less reliant on public sector jobs than other parts of the region
• In recent years, service industries have overtaken manufacturing in terms of number of employees. Employment in the financial services has increased significantly, tourism-related jobs have risen. However, manufacturing continues to be important to local employment, far more than in West Yorkshire and nationally
• Manufacturing accounts for 18% of employment in Calderdale and Financial Services 11%, three times the national average.
• Future trends are likely to see finance and manufacturing decreasing but other sectors such as creative industries, tourism and leisure are expected to grow. Employment in health and social care is expected to grow by over 10%. Green and new technologies will be increasingly important
• Greater economic diversity will be important in the future
• In the future, more jobs will require higher levels of skill, particularly at Level 4 and Level 5. there are skills shortages and gaps in care/health; management and first line management
  

Calderdale aims to:

• Increase the percentage of Calderdale working age residents in employment from 73.2% to 76.3% by 2015
• Increase the percentage of Calderdale working age residents with a Level 2 qualification from 63.9% to 71% by 2015
• To reduce the number of unemployed young adults aged 18 to 24 below 500 by the end of 2012
  

Source: Calderdale Employment and Skills Strategy November 2010, Calderdale MBC