Economic Overview

Cheshire and Warrington is the Northwest's most successful sub region.

On skills levels, productivity and entrepreneurship, performance is well above regional and national averages and there is continuing growth in the creation of new jobs. Cheshire and Warrington's success is vital for the wellbeing of the Northwest as a whole, representing an eighth of the region's population but contributing a sixth of its economic output.

But despite this there are still significant pockets of deprivation with high levels of unemployment and worklessness. CWEA is committed to working with key partners to address these issues to ensure that the economy continues to flourish.

Key Statistics for Cheshire & Warrington (latest data available as at July 2008)

Population 880,400
GVA £15.8bn
Employment by key sectors:  
- Manufacturing 14.4%
- Retail, distribution, hotels & restaurants 25.6%
- Business services 21.7%
- Public admin, education & health 22.7%
Average house price £169,800
Growth in VAT-registered business stock 3.0%
Tourism revenue per resident £1,670
Employment rate 76.6%
Unemployment claimant rate 1.6%
Median gross weekly earnings (workplace based) £462
Median gross weekly earnings (residence based) £478
Working age population with degree level and above qualifications 33.1%


Strategy & Intelligence

CWEA has invested significant resources in developing a more detailed understanding of the sub region and produced the first ever annual report on the economy - 'Building on Success' - in May 2006. Since then CWEA has strengthened its intelligence function by recruiting John Risk, Strategy and Intellligence Manager, in 2007. John works alongside David Horstead, the Director of Strategy & Intelligence, to interpret existing data, identify gaps in intelligence, commission new work, and turn this data into meaningful recommendations that can be used by CWEA and its partners to influence future strategy and policy.

A major economic study of the sub region was undertaken in 2007 in conjunction with the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) - 'SQW Economic Review and Forecasts' - which identifies economic development priorities for the future. The full report and a summary are available in the publications section of the CWEA website.

CWEA works with the Cheshire & Warrington Economic Information Partnership to share up-to-date data and intelligence. The partnership produce an annual Economic Information Sources Directory. Click here to download the 2007 edition.

Northwest Regional Intelligence Unit

Regional statistics and research are available for partners from the NWDA's Regional Intelligence Unit. For further information and to register visit the website at http://www.nwriu.co.uk.

National Government Statistics

Government statistics and reports are available from http://www.statistics.gov.uk.

Other Info Sources

House prices - http://www.landregistry.gov.uk.
Labour market statistics - http://www.nomisweb.co.uk.