In total there are approximately 33,500 people employed in sport and recreation sector which includes 2,500 self-employed people.  Employment in the sector accounts for 1.8% of the regional workforce.  7.3% of all jobs in the sector are in the East Midlands.  There is estimated to be nearly 494,300 volunteers working in the sector.  Annual growth in employment was 7.6% in 2002.

At a sub-regional level, employment is:

• 8,900 Nottinghamshire
• 7,500 Derbyshire
• 6,800 Northamptonshire
• 6,600 Leicestershire
• 3,500 Lincolnshire and Rutland

The East Midlands has 2,600 sport and recreation businesses, with the highest numbers in Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.  77% of businesses in the sector employ less than 10, compared to 82% across all sectors in the region.  Larger organisations in the region include the professional football clubs and the county cricket clubs.  Horse racing and motor sports are also located in the region.  The English Institute of Sport is based at Loughborough University.

Key statistics on the sector in the region:

• 57.8% of the workforce are female
• 55.3% of the workforce are employed part-time
• jobs are expected to increase by 5,300 between 2002-2008
• a high turnover rate is expected with 30% of current jobs needing to be filled up to 2008, equivalent to 10,100 jobs

16% of businesses have vacancies, and 21% of businesses with vacancies in the region are finding them hard-to-fill. 

Internal skills gaps are reported in 24% of sector businesses in the region, compared to 22% for England as whole.  Skills that need development include: customer handling skills; communication skills; and technical and practical skills.

Source: SkillsActive regional fact sheet