Labour Market Information
Labour Market Information (LMI) is information about the local economy – employment, jobs and skills.
It is useful to understand your local economy as it will give you an overview of changing trends and circumstances, for example, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the employment market. It can also help when thinking about what the future might for growth in different career areas. All this information will help you in your career decision making.
The local economic area is known as The Marches and covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.
Facts about the Marches economy at a glance:
Aging population: there are proportionately more older people than the national average
Young people: an outward migration of young people from the area seeking study and employment outside of the Marches area. Skilled young people are, therefore, a very valuable commodity!
Covid-19 pandemic: increase in unemployment and fewer apprenticeships opportunities in the short-medium term
There may be changes to the numbers of people going into higher education and where and how they study. The Marches is home to Harper Adams University, University of Wolverhampton (in Telford and Hereford), University Centre Shrewsbury, the new NMITE and there are also a wealth of opportunities to study Higher Level Qualifications at our Further Education colleges and through training providers.
Higher level skills jobs: in the Marches economy there are currently fewer higher-level jobs partly due to our micro-business economy (89.7% of our businesses employ <10 employees) and a reliance on some traditional sectors.
The Marches high-growth sectors are forecast to be high-tech, energy-efficient manufacturing and engineering, modern and environmentally sustainable food production, packaging and distribution through agri-tech innovation and excellence in cyber-security and resilience (opportunities linked to https://www.cyberquarter.co.uk/). The Marches has international strengths in these areas. They can contribute to the UK’s shift to a zero-carbon economy and deliver productivity improvements in local businesses provide and new opportunities for our communities.
Skills in demand: digital, engineering and technical skills, communication and interpersonal skills · Watch an overview of the Marches LEP’s work here.
For an overview of the employment in the area, look through the presentation: ’Employment Prospects in the Marches area’. You can download a copy of this here, or watch it below narrated by Nicky Stallwood, the college's Student Progression Advisor.
Have a look through these Infographics for more data on jobs, sectors and skills: