Fraser of Allander: exports support quarter of UK jobs

UK exports supported around 6.5 million full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in 2016, or 23% of total UK FTE jobs, according to a new report for the UK’s Department for International Trade by the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde.

UK exports to the EU and the Rest of World (RoW) supported 2.8 million and 3.7 million UK FTE jobs, respectively.

“Around 58% (3.8 million) of these jobs were in exporting industries (jobs supported ‘directly’ by exports) and 42% (2.7 million) were in the UK supply chain of exporting industries (jobs supported ‘indirectly’ by exports) …” said the report.

“The number of jobs directly and indirectly supported by exports is estimated to have increased between 2014 and 2016 by around 387,000 …

“The sector whose exports support the largest number of jobs is manufacturing …

“The sectors most dependent on exports (in terms of absolute number of jobs) are the ‘Professional, scientific and technical services’ and ‘Admin and support services’ sectors …

“Given the sectoral make up of exporting sectors, we estimate that the median wages are on average higher for both direct and indirect jobs: showing the importance of exporting for supporting high wage paying sectors …”

The country which supports the largest number of UK jobs through exports is the United States — UK exports to the US supported directly and indirectly around 1.3 million UK jobs, or 4% of all UK FTE jobs.