Lancashire leads the way in upskilling as initiatives bring new prospects to the county

Lancashire is making a name for itself as a bright hub for upskilling and hiring locally, with more initiatives and businesses choosing to invest in the county

- By Andrew Kulimov Contributor

Although Office for National Statistics data showed unemployment rates in the United Kingdom have been rising in the first quarter of 2025 to a four-year high of 4.5%, Lancashire ended last year with a far lower rate of 3.2%.

This figure falls lower than the North West's 4% rate of unemployment over the same period, showing that the county is a leader when it comes to supporting residents with job opportunities and the chance to grow their skills prior to entering the workplace.

With a particular focus on supporting the county’s workforce of tomorrow, it’s clear that Lancashire’s proactive approach to upskilling the next generation of innovators is critical to its impressive employment rates.

Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce

Schemes like the Lancashire Skills Pledge have helped to support local workers and have seen a total of 289 businesses engage in 690 pledges to upskill and recruit within the county across a wide range of industries.

With sectors involved in the Skills Pledge ranging from construction to recycling, sales, marketing, and navigation, among others, the initiative is an example of the many positive causes that have helped to boost Lancashire’s fight against unemployment.

The county has also taken a proactive role in supporting tomorrow’s workforce by ramping up efforts to accommodate apprenticeships that prepare young adults for work.