THE kind of work York people do is changing. We all know that.

Job losses at British Sugar, Terry's and Nestl have underlined the continuing decline in the city's traditional manufacturing sector.

An analysis of the changing jobs market by city chiefs carried in The Press today reveals the picture is far from being all one of doom and gloom, however.

Yes, in the past decade, York has lost more than 5,000 manufacturing jobs. But over that same period, more than 25,000 new non-manufacturing jobs have been created - in everything from hospitality and tourism to public administration and health.

Not all the new jobs are necessarily as secure or well-paid as those that have gone. But overall, there are now 20,000 more people in employment in this city than a decade ago.

Last year alone, more than four million visitors came to York - spending more than £311 million.

That is the good news. The not-so-good news is that a skills shortage, including widespread illiteracy and innumeracy, is hampering city employers' attempts to recruit local people.

Half of all Science City jobs, for example, go to people coming into York from elsewhere.

The independent Future York group, set up under former GNER boss Christopher Garnett to assess York's economic future, is expected to report its findings in the spring.

There is much in the city council analysis of job trends that should give the group food for thought. Not least how to ensure York people have the skills and training to take advantage of new job opportunities.