Directors and delivery teams at UK training providers delivering ESFA-funded provision in Greater London. This overview provides labour market data and regional context to support curriculum planning, employer engagement, funding alignment, and compliance activity.
This 2026 overview of Greater London labour market data helps AEB- and ESFA-funded training providers understand employment, unemployment, NEET, and skills demand across London's 33 boroughs.
Greater London has a slightly above-average employment rate (around 75.5%), the highest regional unemployment rate in England, but lower-than-expected NEET levels due to strong education participation, with strongest demand in professional services, technology, health, construction, and creative industries.
This section summarises 2026 Greater London employment, unemployment, and NEET data compared with England, using ONS and GLA sources.
Employment Rate
Unemployment Rate
NEET Rate (16-24)
Median Annual Earnings
3-Year Trend: Strong employment growth expected in technology, financial services, health, construction, and green industries sectors
Source: ONS Labour Market Statistics, GLA Economic Data
Greater London Authority skills plans highlight digital, construction, health, green skills, and creative industries as priority sectors for 2025–26.
AEB Annual Allocation: £306M (Adult Skills Fund, reduced 3.3% for 2025-26)
Priority Skills Areas (from GLA Skills Strategy):
Priority Learner Groups:
Source: GLA Commissioning Priorities 2025-26
National Context (England 2024-25):
Level Distribution (England):
Regional Focus Areas:
Common Challenges: Limited SME supervisory capacity, funding complexity, workplace readiness gaps, high cost of living affecting apprentice recruitment
Source: DfE Apprenticeship Statistics 2024-25
Major FE Colleges:
Independent Training Providers: See GLA provider directory for complete listings.
Major Employers (Top 10):
High Deprivation Areas (IMD Bottom Quartile):
Structural Barriers:
Provider Implications: Targeted outreach, community-based delivery, flexible scheduling, wraparound support, travel support essential
Source: MHCLG Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019
Yotru provides digital tools that help training providers structure CV development, feedback, and career action planning within AEB-funded and skills programmes. The platform complements existing MIS, funding, and quality systems and does not replace provider-led compliance or assurance processes.
Time-stamped records generated through Yotru can be integrated into wider learner files and audit trails, supporting more consistent documentation of employability activity and progression while helping to reduce administrative workload.
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Team Yotru
Employability Systems & Applied Research
Team Yotru
Employability Systems & Applied Research
We build career tools informed by years working in workforce development, employability programs, and education technology. We work with training providers and workforce organizations to create practical tools for employment and retraining programs—combining labor market insights with real-world application to support effective career development. Follow us on LinkedIn.
Greater London has a slightly above-average employment rate of around 75.5 percent but the highest regional unemployment rate in England. Unemployment is concentrated in boroughs such as Newham, Barking and Dagenham, Haringey, and Enfield. NEET levels are lower than the national average due to strong education participation, while employment growth is strongest in professional services, technology, health, and construction.
This article is written for Directors of Operations, Quality, Funding, and Data leads at UK training providers delivering ESFA-funded provision. It provides labour market data and regional context to support curriculum planning, employer engagement, funding alignment, and compliance activity.
Yotru content prioritises accuracy, neutrality, and evidence-based guidance. All factual claims are verified against official ONS, DfE, and relevant regional authority sources where available. Articles are reviewed periodically to reflect labour market changes and funding rule updates. This content follows Yotru’s Editorial Policy of providing informational, non-advisory material for workforce and education professionals.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, or funding advice. Training providers remain solely responsible for compliance with ESFA, DfE, UK GDPR, DPA 2018, ICO, and all other applicable requirements.
Labour market data and funding allocations are subject to change. Providers must verify current requirements through official ESFA and relevant commissioning authority publications before implementing any processes described here. This content reflects information available as of the publication date and may not reflect subsequent updates.
Providers should consult official guidance and seek independent professional advice where appropriate. External links are provided for reference only. Yotru is not responsible for third-party content or its accuracy.
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Part of Yotru's commitment to helping professionals succeed in real hiring systems through evidence-based guidance.
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