The rural county of Somerset is based in the south west of England.
Agriculture and food and drink manufacturing are major industries in this county, employing just over 15,000 staff. The county is heavily involved with the production of cider, being home to specialist cider producers, such as Thatchers Cider and Burrow Hill Cider Farm. It is also home to several dairy production companies, including Yeo Valley Organic and the Ilchester Cheese Company. Aside from manufacturing, tourism is a major industry in Somerset, supporting 9% of the county's workforce. Attractions include its coastal towns, Exmoor National Park and the West Somerset Railway.
Military employment openings are widely found in Somerset, with the Ministry of Defence offices, the 40 Commando Royal Marines and the Royal Naval Air Station being based in the county. Over 2,000 civilian and 1,600 service personnel are stationed at the Royal Naval Air Station, which is located in Yeovilton. Somerset is also one of the country's main suppliers of defence technology, being home to Thales Underwater Systems and the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office.
At a mere 4%, unemployment in Somerset is much lower than the Great Britain average of 7.9%. Into Somerset, a public sector investment organisation launched in 2008, is continuing to support businesses to relocate to Somerset from other areas of the UK. Its efforts have been hailed by recruitment agencies for bringing new jobs to the county.
