Solent: Portsmouth named top-10 city for jobs growth, says Centre for Cities

Portsmouth has enjoyed one of the biggest increases in jobs in the country, says a new report.

The Cities Outlook 2015, from the Centre for Cities thinktank, says jobs in the Portsmouth area have increased by 18,800 between 2004 and 2013, or 9.2% – the sixth highest increase in the country.

The report was welcomed by the leader of Portsmouth City Council, cllr Donna Jones, who said: "This report shows that Portsmouth and its surrounding area are doing extraordinarily well, particularly given the tough conditions in recent times. This a real tribute to the hard work and drive of local employers and their workers.

"The growth is in part down to the area's push to support high-tech manufacturing and advanced engineering, particularly in the defence industries. Growth in these sectors is something the council is working hard to accelerate, along with other public and private sector organisations in the area.

"The new centre for Maritime Intelligent Systems on Portsdown Hill, and the city's bid for a University Technical College, are both major steps to ensure continued growth."

The report defines Portsmouth as an area including Fareham, Gosport and Havant boroughs as well as the city itself.

It says private sector jobs in the area increased by 4,300, or 2.9%, between 2012 and 2013, putting Portsmouth 13th out of 63 other UK locations.

It also says real wages increased by 4.4% between 2013 and 2014, putting Portsmouth in sixth place.