Leeds is the UK’s fastest growing city with the second largest employment total outside London.

Leeds has one of the most diverse economies of all the UK’s main employment centres, with an estimated 457,400 people employed in the local economy. The value of the city’s economy is estimated at £13.6 billion (2006) and is projected to grow by a third in the next ten years.

Leeds is the UK’s largest centre for financial and business services outside London, with the sector employing over 114,000 people. Leeds is also recognised as the top legal centre in the UK outside London.

Leeds has the third biggest manufacturing sector in the UK and is the largest centre for print and publishing outside London. Engineering represents the largest manufacturing sub-sector in Leeds with 737 companies and over 13,600 employees.

The city is one of the country’s top retail destinations and one of the largest centres for the media and communications industries.

Leeds is recognised as the regional capital of Yorkshire and the Humber. It is a major employment provider for the region as a whole, with over 110,000 commuting to work in Leeds from outside the district every day.

As regional capital, Leeds is the main centre for the regional headquarters of government departments and utilities providers. Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, has its headquarters in Leeds

There are over 26,600 businesses in Leeds registered for VAT and/or PAYE.  316 organisations based in the city employ more than 200 people each, representing 39% of employment. 85% of employees in Leeds work in the service sector.

The city is expected to generate 24% of the region’s employment growth over the next decade.