The Cogent sector employs just under 34,000 employees which is 6% of the UK Cogent sector workforce. Employment levels are expected to increase slightly to 27,000 in 2014. Employment is clustered in the chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries and the oil and gas industry. 4% of employers in the sector are based in the region, 62% of which employ fewer than 10 people.

Data from the Labour Force Survey for the region’s sectoral workforce are variable so some caution is required for the following workforce profile data:

• 44-50% of the workforce is over 45 years
• 73-77% of the sector workforce is male, with a 1% increase in the proportion of women in the next 10 years
• 99% of the workforce is white, compared to 98% of the region’s workforce
• the proportion of the workforce with higher level qualifications (42%) is lower than the overall North East figure (48%) and the UK sector figure (53%)

The occupational structure of the sector will remain stable over the next 10 years. Slight rises are projected for associate and technical roles including engineering technicians. Process operatives and management occupations are forecast to remain stable.

Skills gaps experienced by employers in the region are in line with the national trend of 9% of establishments experiencing skill gaps.

15% of employers in the sector reported no barriers to training which is much lower than the national average. However, lack of time and problems funding training were identified as barriers to training.

Source: Cogent Sector Skill Needs Assessment 2006