Greater Manchester is in a far better position than in the 1980s when it comes to life chances. But, in spite of this, systemic issues mean there is far more to do to close regional inequality of opportunity.
A report out today written by former Bury Labour councillor Nathan Boroda, says The Mancunian paradox is that Manchester still suffers from low wages – with salaries around £3,000 lower than the national average – despite all the recent positive developments.
Worryingly, recent research has found the ‘graduate wage premium’ has fallen in every region outside the capital.
Analysis from The Financial Times found that 30 years ago, 50% of the highest paid jobs were in the capital. That figure now sits at 75%. But focusing on graduates misses the point.
Lower pay for non-graduate jobs and graduate relocation are two sides of the same coin: underinvestment in our people and infrastructure. Systemic underinvestment has resulted in a productivity gap between Greater Manchester and London of 35% compared to the 20% between Paris and Lyon.
At current rates, it would take 90 years for Greater Manchester to simply reach the French average – although this is beginning to narrow.
Britain’s growth requires a strong Greater Manchester. But for too many careers, jobs are only accessible in London. This is also a concern shared by the Prime Minister, who on a visit to nearby Burnley declared it is his mission that “young people would no longer have to leave their Lancastrian town to achieve great things.”
Greater Manchester’s values of industry and justice are reflected in the symbol of the worker bee. It is now an integral part of our cultural and political identity, with bright yellow BeeNetwork buses now rolled out across the conurbation and the BeeWell survey, listening to young people about their wellbeing. The next stage should be to roll out a ‘BeeHere’ campaign focused on attracting people to Greater Manchester. If this succeeds, no young person should feel they have to leave Greater Manchester to achieve their career objectives. Some may choose to, for a variety of reasons, but nobody should have to.
To achieve this, Greater Manchester must grapple with two twin challenges: under-investment leading to a lower wage economy as well as inequalities of opportunity for its people.
Boosting investment and growth will allow Greater Manchester to become the home of the high-tech, unionised jobs of the future – just as it led the first Industrial Revolution.
Moreover, creating more high-tech jobs will boost the number of employers who will become part of the MBacc. Further to this, Greater Manchester should be empowered to use new and existing powers to find innovative ways to break the link between opportunity and place.
In his first mayoral campaign Andy Burnham said that while Westminster had made young people “a target for cuts,” he would ensure that they are a “priority for investment” in Greater Manchester.
A series of interventions have sought, with considerable success, to deliver on this through OurPass, the MBacc and BeeWell, amongst others. The next step must be to make Greater Manchester the capital of opportunity in the UK and finally break the link between opportunity and place. Throughout Greater Manchester’s radical history one theme has been central: hope. A belief that, despite the injustices the city has and will continue to face, better days lie ahead for the future of this place.
