Bolton, providing about 20,000 jobs in the town area alone, is one of the North West's largest employment centres. It is home to one of Great Britain's fastest growing universities, and can boast an unemployment rate of nearly half the national average. As with most cities in the UK, the public sector here provides a majority of jobs and staffs about 27% of the local workforce. Close behind, however, Bolton's booming retail sector accounts for about a quarter of all jobs in the area. The aerospace industry here is the largest in England, and employs a further 16%. Another 8% work in construction jobs, and the fast-growing financial and professional services field currently provides work for a total staff of more than 3,000 locals at 160 businesses. Recruitment agencies show that jobs in IT, high-tech electronics, and call centres are also significant sources of local employment, especially in recent years.Top employers include Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council, Warburtons, Stateside Foods, MBDA Systems, Watson Steel, and Leighs Paints. The county is currently undergoing a massive £700 billion redevelopment, and the Bolton Innovation Zone and Merchants Quarter Project are expected to bring about 20,000 new jobs to the region in coming years.
