The area can boast a range of unique latent and untapped assets which underpin a dynamic new vision for the future.
In today's knowledge driven economy, recruitment shortages and a lack of skilled personnel are often one of the biggest stumbling blocks to getting new enterprises off the ground. In Wirral there is a large available workforce of 190,900 working age residents and a potential pool of highly qualified residents who currently travel outside the area to seek better paid work. Huge scale regeneration and business expansion, leading to the creation of higher value jobs, will help reverse this migration.
Wirral's economic potential is evidenced by:
- Wirral has some of the most affluent areas in England as shown by 3 areas being in the top 3% nationally in the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2010.
- Office of National Statistics data shows Wirral has the largest gross disposable household income per head in Merseyside at £15,018 - one of the highest in the North West and on par with the UK average.
- Average weekly earnings for Wirral's residents are the highest in the Liverpool City Region at £507.80 a week this also compares well to regional and national figures at £471.20 and £501.80 respectively.
- Above average number of residents qualified to NVQ Level 2 and above at 70.6% of the population, and 27.6% qualified to degree level equivalent NVQ Level 4 and above.
- The number of residents with no qualifications is one of the lowest in the Liverpool City Region at 11.5% and is lower than the regional average.
- Close to one million people reside within a 40 minute peak hour commute of Wirral.
- A large base of small/medium enterprises (SMEs) with businesses employing 0-4 employees accounts for 73% of Wirral's VAT/PAYE registered businesses. This is an increase of 40% since 2006 evidencing a buoyant start-up environment.