Approximately 20,900 people are employed in sport and recreation sector in the North East, including 1,600 self-employed.  This accounts for 1.9% of the regional workforce, which is a higher proportion than the national average, and 4.5% of all sector jobs in the UK.  There is estimated to be nearly 300,000 volunteers working in the sector.  Much of the employment in the region is local authority based.

At a sub-regional level, employment is:

• 9,900 Tyne and Wear
• 5,600 Tees Valley
• 3,100 County Durham
• 2,100 Northumberland

There are over 1,000 sport and recreation businesses units in the region.  63% of the businesses employ less than 10, compared to 78% across all sectors in the region.  Larger organisations in the region include the premier football and rugby union clubs, and the county cricket ground.  Other professional sports in the region include: basketball; ice hockey; horse racing; and the Great North run.  There are also a large number of stadia and facilities. 

Key statistics on the sector in the region:

• 57.5% of the workforce are female
• 57.5% of the workforce are employed part-time
• jobs are expected to increase by 3,300 between 2002-2008
• a high turnover rate is expected with 30% of current jobs needing to be filled up to 2008, equivalent to 6,300 jobs

25% of employers are expecting employment levels to increase, whilst only 1% forecast a decrease. 

24% of businesses have vacancies.  These vacancies are the result of poor terms and conditions of job and the nature of shift work.  35% of sector vacancies in the region are skills shortage related, compared to 50% for England as a whole.

Internal skills gaps are reported in 32% of sector businesses in the region which equates to 9% of the workforce.  Skills that need development include: customer handling skills; communication skills; and problem solving skills.

Source: SkillsActive regional fact sheet