LBWF, Local Economic Assessment, Nov 2010 A few main points from the report .. read full report ---google copy Fig 7.5.3: Proportion of population living in Lone parent Households (2008) In 2008, there were a significant number of people – 56,041 – living in Lone parent households in Waltham Forest. This means a quarter of the borough’s population live in Lone parent households, which is the highest proportion in London, and nearly twice the national average, and nearly 50% more than the London average. Within this, 40,476 live in households where all the children are dependent on the parent, which is potentially a significant issue for the borough as – nationally – an average of 4% of those households have a parent in employment. Table 4.9.1: Business and Economy assessment summary  Large firms (employing 200+) are usually the major drivers of productivity in a local area. While Waltham Forest has a number of large regeneration sites, and strategic industrial locations that could locate new large businesses coming to the area, the potential for such inward investment is viewed by partners are unlikely. The Inward Investment market – particularly for Foreign Direct Investment is risk adverse, and companies will not take a chance on locating to an area without a strong track record as a business location.  Ethnic minorities are less likely to run businesses in the borough.  Despite a large and diverse ethnic minority population, there is a relative lack of entrepreneurialism – particularly among the Pakistani community. This analysis offers the opportunity to promote enterprise among certain communities – which could have community cohesion as well as economic benefits. Summary: Key Issues, 2010 Skills levels in Waltham Forest are very low, as in most of East London. Waltham Forest ranks 377th out of 408 local areas in Great Britain on overall skills and qualifications scores. Males are more likely to be unemployed, and females are more likely to be economically inactive. Ethnic minorities are more likely to be effected by worklessness. Waltham Forest has a higher proportion of small businesses than London, the Host Boroughs and North East London. 2.6% of employers provide 50.1% of jobs in the borough. Micro‐businesses (employing 10 or less people) are the most significant employer in Waltham Forest – providing 27.1% of jobs. This is unique to the borough among comparator areas. Waltham Forest has the smallest overall production and is the least productive borough in London The borough has low skills levels, which is critical to employment risk, and levels of unemployment and economic inactivity The profile of those economically inactive ‘Seeking work but unavailable’ are very likely to be young and male in Waltham Forest. Men are far more likely to be unemployed in Waltham Forest than women. The differential between rates of unemployment by gender in the borough is the highest is London. There are more Asian/Asian British unemployed in Waltham Forest than any other ethnic grouping. Asian/Asian British residents are nearly three times as likely to be unemployed as White residents, and twice as likely as Black/Black British residents. Economic inactivity is concentrated in the Asian/Asian British population of the borough, and predominantly amongst women. Of those who are economically inactive, the proportion of Asian/Asian British who are “not seeking but want a job” is strikingly low.