UNEMPLOYMENT in York is low. So far so good. The trouble is that very often wages are low, too. A s we have often noted in the past, many of the jobs available in the city – in hospitality, catering and retail – are comparatively poorly paid. There are relatively few jobs in the higher-paid insurance, pensions, pharmaceuticals and biosciences sectors.

Add to this the fact that more than a third of all people with a job in York work part-time, and it is little wonder that, despite the low unemployment, many people are still struggling to make ends meet.

Members of a council task group have now identified one possible strategy to address the shortage of well-paid jobs.

They want to tap into the entrepreneurial potential of York graduates, by offering more help to them to set up and expand their own businesses.

There is already help available, both at the University of York and York St John University, for graduate students who want to start up businesses of their own. But there is comparatively little space for successful new businesses to grow, and to begin employing more local people.

Now the city council’s ‘higher value jobs’ task group has recommended trying to find office space in the city centre that could be used by growing businesses. It also wants to see better business advice for new businesses, as well as a better mentoring and networking opportunities.

This makes a great deal of sense. York is producing some outstanding graduates, many of them with great business ideas and real entrepreneurial flair. It would be much better for the city if more of these young entrepreneurs were able to start and grow their businesses here, rather than going elsewhere.