Partnership Conference on Employment
“Tackling Inequalities”
Renfrewshire’s Economy
David Martin
Chief Executive, Renfrewshire Council
Invest in Renfrewshire is a commitment
between Renfrewshire Council and the area’s
business community to reduce youth
unemployment and grow the local economy.

All people in Renfrewshire
174,300

All Working Age (16-64)
113,300
Renfrewshire %
◦ Economically Active
86,600
Of which:
◦ In Employment (total)
80,600
◦ In Employment (employees)
71,300
◦ In Employment (self employed)
8,400
◦ Unemployed and looking for work 7,000
◦ Economically Inactive
Of which:
◦ Wants a job
25,100
5,700
Scotland %
77.2
77.0
71.7
63.9
7.1
8.0
71.0
62.7
7.6
7.7
Looking back to pre-recession
figures...
how have we fared?
% of people in employment



In Employment – made up of “employees” and “selfemployed”
The rise in employment in Renfrewshire is primarily
due to the increase in those securing work as
employees
Self employment rates are still lower in
Renfrewshire but this has significantly improved
over the last year.
% of people who are self employed
% of people who are unemployed
How has our position changed
over the last 2 years?
% of young people unemployed
June 2012: 10.4%
Renfrewshire ranked
26th out of 32 local
authorities for youth
unemployment.
June 2013: 8.6%
Renfrewshire ranked
23rd out of 32
June 2014: 5.8%
Renfrewshire ranked
19th out of 32
Adult (25 – 49) unemployment rate drops from 5.4% to 3.7%:


Renfrewshire previously 1.3% higher than national average,
now 0.9% higher
Renfrewshire's “ranking” moves from 26th to 23rd in Scotland
for adult unemployment
Adult (50+) unemployment rate drops from 2.6% to 2.2%


The gap between the Renfrewshire and national figures has not
changed : still 0.5% higher
Renfrewshire's “ranking” has improved slightly from 26th to 25th in
Scotland for older adult 50 + unemployment
All very positive news.
However....
Ferguslie
Ferguslie %
Renfrewshire %
Total
995
34.7 %
17.2 %
Job seekers
230
8.0 %
3.8 %
ESA + incapacity
470
16.4 %
8.7 %
Lone parents
125
4.4 %
1.2 %
Carers
90
3.1 %
1.3 %
Other income
related benefit
10
0.3 %
0.3 %
Disabled
60
2.1 %
1.5 %
Bereaved
10
0.3 %
0.3 %
October 2013 figures
%
unemployed
Commission for Developing Scotland's Young Workforce:

Care Leavers
◦ (In 2013 1 in 3 were unemployed 9 months after leaving
school)

Black and Ethnic Minority Groups
◦ (In 2012/13 less than 2% of MA starts were from nonwhite BME groups)

People with a disability
◦ (In 2012 only 41.3% were employed)
New Developments
A range of infrastructure projects capable of generating significant
economic benefit for the Glasgow City Region.
Projects under consideration in
Renfrewshire include:
a. Glasgow Airport Investment Zone
b. Clyde Waterfront / Renfrew North
c. Glasgow airport rail link
A programme to improve
employment is also
under consideration tackling:
- health and unemployment
- youth unemployment
- In Work Progression

Paisley Town Centre:

Johnstone Town Centre
 Heritage Regeneration Strategy
 Arnotts development
 Westpoint Homes
 Russell Institute


New Town Hall and civic hub
Braehead
 £200million investment that will
create 5,000 jobs

ROF Bishopton
◦ 40,000sqft retail store at the centre
of the emerging Dargavel Village

Tesco Linwood
◦ over 250 new jobs

Renfrew Road Retail Park
◦ 150 - 200 new jobs

Retail Improvement Scheme
◦ Over 60 Shops supported across
Renfrewshire


Encourage investment
No impediments to business
growth or inward investment