Workforce

•  The Borough’s resident population of working age is estimated to be 51,500 (mid 1996). A majority of the resident workforce travel to work outside the Borough.

• In 1991, 67% of the Borough’s population over 16 was classed as economically active The level of participation in the workforce has been increasing during the 1990s, particularly among women, who have benefited from the growth in service sector jobs and more part-time and flexible working.  

In 1991, nearly 60% of  residents in employment were professional, managerial or skilled (non-manual) workers compared with the County figure of 65%.   The proportion of manual, semi-skilled and unskilled residents (40%) is significantly higher than the County average of 33%.

•  Employment Policies in the Hertfordshire Structure Plan Review 1991-2001 reflect the  County’s  ‘Bright Green’ industrial strategy. This  aims to develop the competitiveness of the County around a ‘knowledge-based’ economy and to  balance economic growth with  sustainability. The  strategy is expected to  increase  demand and opportunities for a more highly educated, better trained and flexible workforce. 

•  In 1991, 9% of Broxbourne residents aged over 18 were qualified to diploma standard or higher, a level about the national average, although half the County average. 

• The  Structure Plan envisages that future commuting flows throughout  the County should decline, but there is unlikely to be any significant shift in the Borough’s commuting patterns in the near future.  In the medium term, the  development of the high quality business park at Park Plaza Key Site will  help reduce commuting levels in accordance with sustainability objectives.

Nearly 58% of residents in employment worked outside the Borough in 1991 (around 22,300 persons), of which two-thirds worked in London.   There are also significant flows of workers into the Borough , totalling 12,500 persons from the rest of  Hertfordshire, Essex and Outer London Boroughs .