The total regional land-based workforce is an estimated 78,000, but this figure may underestimate levels of employment of migrant and casual workers.

There are approximately 13,000 businesses operating wholly or principally in the land-based sector.  Agricultural livestock and agricultural crops, together, account for nearly 45% of the region’s land-based sector.  Landscaping and production horticulture have smaller business numbers, but slightly larger than average sector workforces.

Key statistics on the region:

• 98.2% of businesses employ less than 10 people or no staff
• 10.8% of the workforce are staff, 89.1% are proprietors
• 44.6% of the workforce are aged 25-44 years (compared to 47.5% in all sectors)
• 41.6% aged over 45 years (compared to 37.5% in all sectors)
• 76.4% of the workforce are male (compared to 53.7% in all sectors)
• most common annual business turnover is £185,417
• 9.2% of all establishments report vacancies, of which 6.7% are hard-to-fill and 5% skills shortage
• 0.4% of the workforce have skills gaps

Businesses in the region need the following skills: literacy (84.7%); numeracy (83.7%); and communication skills (78.1%).  Over the next few years, all skills will be needed at a higher level.

Education and training providers in the region offer both full-time and part-time learning, work-based learning, technical skill development and continuing professional development courses.  49.7% of establishments report that general training courses are available to the workforce.  Of those establishments that access training courses, 23.5% report qualification courses and over half reported using certificated training.

Within the Yorkshire and the Humber, there is a high level of full-time provision for animal care and equine provision.

Across the region land-based employers are sending staff on 400 courses and awards that are industry recognised, but which lie outside of the National Qualification Framework.  In 2003/04, there were 159 enrolments on environmental and land-based sector related higher education courses. 

Key drivers in the region:

• pressure on fossil fuels and the environmental targets will lead to an increase in biofuel and biomass crops, short rotation coppice, etc and regionally several groups have formed in order to maximise opportunities
• the growth in interest of local food is assisted in the region by support for  organisations such as TEAM Food and the Regional Food Group
• demographic changes and an ageing workforce will require both smarter working, language skills and increased employment of migrants by the workforce

Source: Lantra Yorkshire and the Humber Region Consultation 2005 and Sector Skills Agreement Stage 1: Annex 2.6 2005

For data on regional workforce by industry see:

Distribution of Lantra workforce in Yorkshire and the Humber, 2005