South West

The South West is a relatively productive and wealthy region with an economy of £80bn and an attractive environment. Yet there are some persistent pockets of disadvantage.

The region is characterised by a largely rural landscape, a long coastline, relatively few major cities and many small settlements. 35% of the population live in rural areas in towns and villages of fewer than 10,000 people. Although 80% of the land is classified as agricultural land, farming only accounts for 2% of output and 3% of employment. The major cities are the engines of the regional economy but the rural nature of much of the region remains a dominant feature.

With around 170,000 small and medium businesses, 81% of jobs are in the service sector including tourism, retail and public sector. In 2001, the region attracted around 26m visitors spending an estimated £9bn and employing 4% of the workforce.

In recent years, South West England has performed relatively well within a UK economy that, in turn, has improved its comparative position. In terms of productivity, the region could perform better. In 2003, output per head remained 7% below the UK average. South West England has performed well in terms of real growth and employment, with the lowest unemployment rates amongst the UK regions.