Cheap labour is something of an advantage when touting for foreign inward investment. There’s an interesting study out from the Centre for Cities a policy development unit within IPPR. Interestingly Belfast barely features in the news story, but if you dig there is plenty of note. For instance, of 60 cities, Belfast has the slowest growth (-0.8% over ten years). It also has the lowest employment rate at 63.4%. It also has the lowest wages. £395.7 is the average wage in Belfast, a long way behind top earners London which comes in at £675.1, or even number two Cambridge which tops out at £650.1. Along with slow economic growth and a manufacturing output that is 2% down on the 4th quarter last year, our procrastinating ministers clearly have a major job to do at an inopportune point in the economic cycle.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
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