Wales’ R&D workforce is growing at almost the slowest rate in the UK, according to analysis by innovation funding specialists Catax.
The number of R&D positions in Wales has remained flat at 7,000 year on year — with only Northern Ireland performing worse, the latest ONS data for 2020 reveals1.
Wales saw no growth at all in the latest year, while across the UK the number of R&D jobs grew 6.8% to 283,000 full-time equivalent positions.
However, its performance over the past decade is more impressive. Wales has boasted a strong track record over the last 10 years, with the number of R&D jobs rising 133.3% compared to the UK average of 83.8%. This is better than England (79.3%), Scotland (128.6%) and Northern Ireland (100%).
R&D jobs are an important indicator of future economic growth, particularly when it comes to industries reliant on innovation. These roles stimulate economic activity and often lead to the creation of more skilled jobs locally.
Lack of innovation reduces overall prosperity and leaves areas more vulnerable to economic shocks such as inflation, currency fluctuations, recessions and rises in the cost of living.
Wales’ R&D workforce represent 2.5% of the UK total — significantly higher than its 1.9% share in 2010.
Meanwhile Northern Ireland’s R&D workforce was the only one to shrink in the latest year, falling 11.1% to 8,000. The average R&D workforce across every region of the UK2 is 23,500.
Total numbers of R&D jobs, ranked by change over a decade:
| Total R&D Jobs | Annual change | Decade Rate of Growth | |
| North East | 7,000 | 16.7% | 75.0% |
| North West | 23,000 | 15.0% | 64.3% |
| London | 35,000 | 9.4% | 250.0% |
| West Midlands | 28,000 | 7.7% | 154.5% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 15,000 | 7.1% | 114.3% |
| East of England | 46,000 | 7.0% | 43.8% |
| Scotland | 16,000 | 6.7% | 128.6% |
| East Midlands | 21,000 | 5.0% | 90.9% |
| South West | 23,000 | 4.5% | 43.8% |
| South East | 53,000 | 3.9% | 47.2% |
| Wales | 7,000 | 0.0% | 133.3% |
| Northern Ireland | 8,000 | -11.1% | 100.0% |
| United Kingdom | 283,000 | 6.8% | 83.8% |
| England | 251,000 | 7.3% | 79.3% |
Source: ONS BERD 2020
Mark Tighe, CEO of innovation funding specialists Catax, comments:
“Wales has been one of the better performing regions of the UK for R&D jobs over the last 10 years, but the rate of increase has slipped.
“Local policy makers should look urgently at what can be done to ensure these figures do not continue to stagnate, or worse, start to decline.”
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