Overview
Rochdale’s economic landscape is diverse, with significant activity in sectors like wholesale and retail trade, construction, and administrative support services. The city has experienced a notable increase in employment, with a total of 53,943 employees and an impressive growth rate of 9.36%. The presence of scaleups and new companies suggests a dynamic business environment, though the number of company cessations indicates challenges in business sustainability. The demographic distribution of company founders and directors reflects diversity in gender, with a notable proportion of female participation.
Employment and Business Growth
- Total Employees: Rochdale has 53,943 employees. The city has seen a significant increase in employment, with 181 companies reporting growth in their workforce.
- Employee Growth Rate: The employment growth rate is 9.36%, indicating a robust and expanding job market.
- Top Sectors with Rising Employment: The sectors with notable increases in employment include mobile apps, security services, wholesale, other supply chain, and business banking and financial services.
- Number of Scaleups: Rochdale hosts 56 scaleups, highlighting a healthy ecosystem for growing businesses.
Sector Dynamics
- Leading Sectors by Company Numbers: The predominant sectors are wholesale and retail trade (2,523 companies), construction (1,432 companies), and administrative support services (1,307 companies).
- Emerging Sectors: Sectors showing significant growth include mobile apps and security services, indicating a shift towards technology-oriented businesses.
Business Continuity
- Company Cessations: The city has experienced 1,503 company cessations, which may signal challenges in the business environment or natural market fluctuations.
- Number of New Companies in 2 Years: There were 2,253 new companies formed over the last two years, suggesting a dynamic and entrepreneurial business climate.
Diversity in Leadership
- Founders Gender: 15.91% of founders are female, 79.55% male, and 4.55% unknown. This data indicates a gender gap in entrepreneurship.
- Directors Gender: The gender distribution among directors is 25.88% female and 70.88% male, with a small percentage (3.24%) unknown.
- Age Distribution of Directors: Directors are spread across various age groups, with a significant presence in the 40-60 age bracket.
Innovation and International Presence
- Number of Patent Owners: There are 175 patent owners in Rochdale, suggesting a focus on innovation.
- Number of Exporters: The city has 331 exporters, indicating an outward-looking business approach.
- Foreign Parent Companies: 130 companies in Rochdale are subsidiaries of foreign parent companies, showing international business integration.
Conclusion
Rochdale exhibits a dynamic and diverse economic environment, with strong growth in employment and a vibrant new business scene. While the city faces challenges in business continuity, the rise in scaleups and innovative sectors points to a resilient and evolving business landscape. The diversity in leadership, although skewed towards male dominance, shows gradual progress. Overall, Rochdale’s economic health is robust, with ample opportunities for further growth and development.