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.

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, 2014-2024, 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

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

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