Planners & Development Economists

Roger Tym & Partners
Roger Tym & Partners

Yorkshire Futures

Yorkshire Forward asked Roger Tym & Partners to assess levels of inequality in Yorkshire and Humber, and how trends would affect inequality in future.
 
The research focused on income and the labour market, as well as issues such as health, education and housing. We used newly available ONS data to calculate the Gini co-efficient for the region, and understand which areas within the region had become less equal over time.

The results showed that whilst fewer people are "excluded" from labour markets, a more polarised society is growing across the region as a result of changes in the global economy.

Some measures suggest that, as in London, an "hour-glass labour market" is emerging: this is characterised by an increase in the numbers of "good" jobs, an increase in "bad" jobs, and a shrinking middle range.  This process will tend to increase inequalities over time, with important social implications.

It was especially worrying that (with the exception of Indians and Chinese groups) BAME groups and women are more likely to be in lower skilled occupations which will be particularly vulnerable to the forces of global change.  It is worrying, too, that these differences are spatially concentrated, and that the differences between “good” and “bad” areas appear to be becoming starker.

Cllr Arthur Barker, Chair of Yorkshire and Humber Assembly's Sustainable Development Board, commented “The research highlights important issues which the region needs to address. Identifying these current and future trends will play an important role in policy development and delivery.”