The total regional land-based workforce is an estimated 93,000, but this figure may underestimate levels of employment of migrant and casual workers.  Employment in the region is concentrated in agriculture (45%), landscape (12%), equine (11.3%) and production horticulture (10.2%).

There are approximately 16,000 businesses operating wholly or principally in the land-based sector.

Agricultural crop production is key within the region with a well developed food processing sector.  There are also large concentrations of pig and poultry enterprises.  Production horticulture, animal care, landscape and equine are also important in terms of regional economic importance, environmental value and concentration of businesses.

Key statistics on the region:

• 96.7% of businesses employ less than 10 people or no staff
• 85.6% of the workforce are staff, 14.4% are proprietors
• 46.5% of the workforce are aged 25-44 years
• 42.6% aged over 45 years (compared to 39.2% in all sectors)
• 68.7% of the workforce are male (compared to 54.2% in all sectors)
• most common annual business turnover is £230,798
• 7.3% of businesses report vacancies
• 3.4% of businesses report skills gaps
• 0.4% of the workforce currently have skills gaps

Businesses in the region need the following skills: numeracy (82.6%); literacy (80.5%); and communication (80.5%).

58.2% of establishments report that general training courses are available to the workforce.  Of those establishments that access training courses, 32.5% report using qualification courses, 57.5% use certificated training, and 10% use un-certificated training courses.

In the region, there are over 300 programmes and awards delivered to (and accessed by) the sector which lie outside of the National Qualification Framework.  In 2003/04, there were 795 enrolments on environmental and land-based sector related higher education courses.  Production horticulture had the largest increase in enrolments of 13%, followed by animal care (4%).

Key drivers in the region:

• widespread building of new houses across the region  will increase the need for the ‘greenskills’ such as landscaping, increased fencing requirements, horticultural requisites, floristry and other service type needs
• a higher population will also increase employment needs in animal care, small animal veterinary practices and kennels and catteries
• the Olympics in 2012 will have a major impact on regional businesses and suppliers, due to the closeness of London

Source: Lantra Eastern Region Consultation 2005

For data on regional workforce by industry see:

Distribution of Lantra workforce in the Eastern region, 2005