Workforce

Home to a working population of over 168,000, knowledge and enterprise thrive in East Kent. And with more people moving to East Kent from London, this number is predicted to grow. East Kent also has more than 8,000 graduates joining the potential local workforce every year. Existing companies are committed to investing to create more jobs and develop skill levels. Universities are providing opportunities for integrated learning - students to gain ‘real world' experience, the business community unlocking talent and benefiting from ‘work-ready' graduates.

East Kent companies enjoy high levels of staff retention from a skilled, flexible and motivated workforce who live and work in the area. Almost 75,000 workers are at technical, professional or managerial level. With affordable residential property, this multi-skilled workforce has an unrivalled quality of life.

East Kent boasts an affordable workforce, with salaries around a fifth cheaper than the South East average and a third of the cost of London salaries. Plus there's a huge potential for businesses to attract employees to live and work in East Kent - an untapped workforce which commutes to and from London. It's clear that the area has a labour force capable of meeting expansion plans.

• 500 Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies.
• Contact centre operating costs are 60% cheaper than prime locations in London.
• Key European location for healthcare technology and life sciences - Pfizer employs 3,500.