Ipswich employment rate third best in country - but there's more to do.

1.22.00pm GMT Mon 31st Dec 2007

Cllr Richard Atkins - "Employment in Ipswich is very high but there is more to do".

The employment rate in Ipswich is amongst the highest in the Country at 80.9%, above the Government's long-term target of 80%. This statistic backs up the success in increasing the number of jobs in Ipswich - up by 8,600 in recent years, a task ever more vital with the loss of manufacturing jobs in the town.

However qualifications levels are low in Ipswich, with a corresponding lower than average wage here.

That is one of the main reasons behind the need for the new University. Lib Dem Economic Development Portfolio holder, Richard Atkins, said: "Overall it is quite a good picture but there is definitely room for improvement. Because the employment is high it makes it harder to have employment growth. The fact that there are low earnings and qualifications are reasons why we decided to give the land for the formation of the university here. It is not an overnight solution but what we have seen is there are many students who go off to university and don't return. Having a university will also see more local people going on to further education."