The total regional land-based workforce is an estimated 121,740, in approximately 23,600 businesses operating wholly or principally in the land-based sector.  The region is dominated by the food production industry.  Agricultural crops, livestock production and production horticultural businesses make up more than 68% of the businesses.  However, as with other regions, there is likely to be an underestimate of the levels of employment of migrant and casual workers.  Landscape contributes to 9.1% of the workforce.

Key statistics on the region:

• 98.7% of businesses employ less than 10 people or no staff
• 40.5% of the workforce are staff, 59.5% are proprietors
• 43.2% of the workforce are aged 25-44 years (compared to 45.1% in all sectors)
• 46.1% aged over 45 years (compared to 40.9% in all sectors)
• 70.5% of the workforce are male (compared to 53.5% in all sectors)
• most common annual business turnover is £134,916
• 9.2% of businesses report vacancies
• 5% report hard-to-fill vacancies
• 1.4% of the workforce have skills gaps

Businesses in the region need the following skills: literacy (77.8%); planning and organisation (76.9%); and numeracy (72.6%).  In the future, advanced level skills will be required for customer relations and technical skills. 

Education and training providers in the region continue to deliver many short courses and legislative training.  52.1% of establishments report that general training courses are available to the workforce.  Of those establishments that access training courses, 26.7% report that they use qualifications, 57.1% use certificated training and 11.4% use un-certified training courses.

In 2003/04, there were 1,659 enrolments on environmental and land-based sector related higher education courses.  Production horticulture and environmental conservation has seen the greatest increase in enrolments at 5% and 4%, respectively.  Enrolments in equine have decreased by 9% reflecting overcapacity or courses that do not reflect the need of employers.  Specialist provision is noted for fisheries management, which is a growing interest in this industry in the South West.

Key drivers in the region:

• many businesses are increasingly dependent on contractors and contractual labour
• pressure on fossil fuels will lead to an increase in bio-fuel crops and alternative green sources of energy such as the pilot Miscanthus production at Winkleigh
• the region is home to many well known dairy and meat product manufacturers that have developed as a result of primary agriculture
• the South West Food and Drink Partnership is promoting local grown Fine Foods and is also working to ensure that the region is at the forefront of encouraging and promoting the use of local produce
• developing the aquaculture industry will require specialist skills requirements
• urban regeneration will drive up demand for more rangers and parks staff particularly in Plymouth, Bristol, Torbay and Bournemouth

Source: Lantra South West Region Consultation 2005

For data on regional workforce by industry see:

Distribution of Lantra workforce in the South West, 2005