Poorly paid jobs 'causing brain drain of most talented students'

Ryedale is being hit by a "brain drain" of talented students because of poorly paid employment and a lack of career opportunities, according to a new study.

Now Ryedale Council is to investigate ways of attracting more high-tech and science jobs to the area, North Yorkshire's biggest geographical district.

The findings of a new multi-agency report on the state of life in Ryedale has highlighted an imbalance whereby earnings are lower than the national average, but attainment in schools is very high.

Other problems identified in the study include child obesity, domestic violence, and road deaths – though residents generally enjoy better health than the rest of the UK and the area has a very entrepreneurial culture despite pockets of poverty.

Faced with average earnings that are the lowest in North Yorkshire, and unemployment which is the second highest in the county, many young people were leaving, said Julian Rudd, the council's head of economy and housing.

He added that while young people were achieving well in the area's schools, they then left the area creating a "brain drain", only returning to the area much later in life.

He underlined the need to modernise the Ryedale economy and link it to York's Science City to create more highly paid jobs and encourage young talent to stay.

Based on evidence provided to the local authority by Government agencies, the county Primary Care Trust, and other organisations, the report points to a mixed picture of the district's lifestyle.

Ryedale's population in the 15-24 age group was the lowest in England at nine per cent, compared with the national figure of 12 per cent, while the number aged over 75 was well above the national average - 20 per cent compared with 15.

The number of one-parent families was also high, compared with national figures. The Wolds, Norton East, Pickering and Kirkbymoorside were the poorest paid places to live in the district.

Child poverty was just as much a problem as poverty among older people in North Malton and part of Pickering. However, Ryedale's residents enjoy better health than those in the rest of England.

Deaths from smoking and diabetes are lower than the national average, as are early deaths from heart disease and strokes, the report continued.

But child obesity is above the national figure, despite the percentage of youngsters being involved in sport and PE being the highest in North Yorkshire. Adult obesity is also high.

Ryedale has one of the highest rates for road injuries and deaths in England, mainly due to the A64's accident record.

Some 86 per cent of the working population is self employed, which Mr Rudd said was "very high and good news for the area."

Other major concerns included the lack of affordable housing in Ryedale, gaps in local services, and the number of people remaining in the area who did not have any skills.

"We have tremendous results in our schools, enabling young people to achieve skills, but they then leave Ryedale and leave unskilled workers," he said.

A bleak picture of domestic abuse and violence is painted, with the revelation in the report that the cost of "serious violence" is put at more than 3.6m a year.

Coun Linda Cowling said further reports on the issues raised in the report would be going before councillors in the future with the aim of exploring ways of tackling the problems.