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The South East of England is the UK's second largest regional economy after London. It comprises Berkshire, East Sussex, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight.
The vast majority (86%) of workers in the South East are employed in services industries. Of those who work in services industries, 24% work in finance or IT jobs, 26% work in public administration, health or education jobs, and 25% work in hospitality jobs.
A large proportion of the regions public sector jobs can be found across two strategic health authorities: the NHS South East Coast in Surrey and the NHS South Central in Newbury. Private sector jobs in this region are many and varied, but are mainly found in the vast array of technology companies housed here. Recruitment agencies specialising in technology jobs are therefore a rich source of employment openings. One of the largest companies in the region is the telecommunications company Vodafone.
Just over half of all residents aged between 16 and 64 have qualifications at Level 3 or above, with 36% having qualifications at Level 4 or higher. Almost 8% of residents have no qualifications whatsoever.
Staff in full-time employment in the South East receive an average weekly income of £536, with those working in Surrey earning around £40 more than this each week. The unemployment rate for this region as a whole is 5.8%, which is lower than that of the rest of Great Britain.