Office for National Statistics: Burnley workforce makes £35.11 an hour for UK economy

Burnley's workforce is roughly as productive as the average across the country but lags behind some boroughs in London.

The stats show that the area's workforce is roughly as productive as the average across the country but still a long way behind some parts of London, with a leading policy think-tank saying that the 'productivity output gap' is one of the biggest challenges facing the British economy.

According to the Office for National Statistics, Burnley had a gross value added (GVA) of £35.11 per hour worked in 2018, an increase of 5% on 2017 and slightly above the UK average of £35.03 per hour. GVA is the final value of the goods and services produced in an area and is used to measure contribution to the national economy.

The North West as a whole has an average GVA of £32.20, making it the fifth-most productive region in Britain, with Burnley lagging behind Cheshire East (£42.24) and Hounslow in London (the most productive place in Britain with a GVA of £63.24) in particular.

"The productivity output gap between northern and southern cities is one of the biggest challenges facing the British economy," said Paul Swinney, Director of Policy and Research at urban policy research unit Centre for Cities. “While cities and large towns in south-eastern England are among the most productive places in Europe, those in the north lag far behind and, as a result, it takes someone in Wigan a full working week to produce what it takes someone in Westminster just two and a half days.

“Addressing this disparity should be central to the Government’s levelling up agenda," added Paul. "Transport investment within big cities will be important, and so will spending on adult education to up-skill the workforce.”

The ONS says that areas with high labour productivity will usually be home to a major manufacturing site or a large utility sector and those with low productivity are typically more rural or isolated places.

A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “This Government remains absolutely committed to the Northern Powerhouse and levelling up growth across the whole country to drive productivity, empower communities and re-balance opportunity.

“Alongside Local Industrial Strategies agreed with local business and civic leaders, we are committed to investing record levels in research and development throughout the UK and supporting local innovation through our £236 million Strength in Places fund.”