Overview
Carmarthenshire, a region with a dynamic economic landscape, showcases a diverse range of sectors. With a total of 35,858 employees, the area has witnessed growth in various industries. The presence of sectors like construction, retail trade, professional activities, and real estate highlights a balanced economic environment. The growth in employee numbers and the emergence of new companies underline the region’s economic vitality.
Employment and Business Growth
- Total Employees: 35,858. Carmarthenshire’s workforce is distributed across several key sectors, indicating a robust and diversified local economy.
- Employee Growth Rate: 19.79% growth, signifying a strong, upward trajectory in job creation.
- Top Sectors by Company Numbers: The leading sectors include Construction (13.97%), Retail Trade (13.37%), Professional Activities (13.27%), Real Estate (7.78%), and Accommodation/Food Services (7.73%). This diversity suggests a healthy mix of traditional and service-oriented industries.
- Top Sectors Showing Growth: Sectors like Management Consultancy, Waste Management, Food and Drink Processing, CleanTech, and Research Tools are emerging as significant growth areas.
- Scaleups: 43 companies, indicating a nurturing environment for business expansion.
Business Continuity
- Company Cessations: The data does not provide explicit numbers for company cessations, but the growth in new companies and overall company numbers suggests a positive trend.
- New Companies in Last 2 Years: 1,776, reflecting a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Total Number of Companies: 7,621, showing the region’s capacity to sustain a diverse business landscape.
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): 5,932 SMEs form the backbone of the local economy, driving innovation and employment.
Gender Representation in Leadership
- Founders Gender Breakdown: 20.97% female, 77.42% male, 1.61% unknown. This indicates a gender gap in entrepreneurship which may require targeted support for female founders.
- Directors Gender Breakdown: 28.35% female, 67.22% male, 4.43% unknown. While better than the founders’ statistics, there’s still room for improvement in gender diversity at the director level.
Other Key Indicators
- Exporters and Companies with Foreign Parentage: 145 exporters and 46 companies with foreign parentage, signifying the region’s integration into the global market.
- Innovation Indicators: 101 patent owners and 5 grantees reflect an environment conducive to innovation.
- Young Companies with Young Directors: 314 companies, suggesting a trend of youth-driven entrepreneurship.
- Attendance in Business Events: 3 attendances, which may indicate limited engagement in wider business networks or underreporting of such activities.
Conclusion
Carmarthenshire displays a robust and diversified economic landscape, characterised by strong growth in employment and the emergence of new companies. The region boasts a healthy mix of sectors, with notable expansion in service-oriented industries. Despite the positive economic indicators, there is a noticeable gender disparity in entrepreneurship and leadership roles. The local economy benefits from a significant SME presence and shows signs of innovation and global integration.