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Rob Johnson

@rjson.bsky.social
426 followers 475 following 294 posts

Senior analyst, Centre for Cities. All things urban economics - mainly labour markets, living standards, transport, and innovation. Fan of working with data and visualising it.

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Reposted by Rob Johnson
Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 9h
Britain is not good at getting people into city centers. (Sign up for nice charts centreforcities.substack.com/p/good-growt...)
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Healey's 'local apprenticeship service' seems promising: sounds a lot like our recommendation for a wider rolling out of mayoral powers to 'broker' connections between companies and prospective apprentices. Retention of Growth and Skills Levy would be an important subsequent step
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
This is going to be a great event for those wanting to understand how mayors can cut help cut through the complexity in the existing skills and employment system - this panel knows their stuff 🎓
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Would be interesting to see how this breaks down sub-nationally. Our recent research suggests, if the examples of Italy/France are anything to go by, compliance will be worse in the parts of the UK where the national minimum is most out of whack with local labour market pay - where it bites hardest:
centreforcities.org
Pay pals: The geography of the minimum wage across G7 countries - Centre for Cities
This briefing looks at how other G7 countries address geography in minimum wage policy and what the UK can learn from them.
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
We've been chatting to mayors' teams about skills and employment support - the problems with the system and what they'd like to see change. Very different stories, whether talking about 16-19 education, adult skills, or employment support. Here's what we found:
centreforcities.org
Six things we learnt from Mayoral Strategic Authorities about skills devolution - Centre for Cities
Jess Tulasiewicz reflects on conversations with Mayoral Strategic Authorities about the devolved skills system, and where further devolution could make the greatest difference.
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
New Briefing: what could the UK learn from Japan's system of sub-national minimum wages? And why might the US not be an applicable example when thinking about how to incorporate economic geography into rate setting? Have a read here: www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
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Tom Forth @tomforth.co.uk · 21/08/2026
As a percentage of total employment, since 1948 when the data starts, Central government employment is today the highest on record. Local government employment is today the lowest on record. Some context for Andy Burnham's promise to try and reverse this trend.
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Andrew Carter @andrewcities.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Often asked which places to look at that are doing interesting stuff to improve their city/town and its economy. Barnsley is on my list
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Centre for Cities @centreforcities.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
With the Government putting devolution at the heart of its plan to ‘rewire the state’, there are lessons for every part of the country in what Yorkshire cities are doing on transport and still need to do 🚌👇 buff.ly/Ov0CRQJ
centreforcities.org
Fixing Yorkshire's transport connectivity gap - Centre for Cities
There are lessons for every part of the country in what Yorkshire cities are doing on transport and still need to do.
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Andrew Carter @andrewcities.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
I am lucky to a member of several excellent policy groups. (Nearly) universal response has been positive to today's devo statement to assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a6c7a...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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Ant Breach @antbreach.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
My immediate thoughts on today's Devolution Document It's a huge set of proposals that will fundamentally change British politics and the national economy Making mayors accountable for growing their taxbase + committing to giving them what they need to do this is a gamechanger Thread:
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Oscar Selby @oscarselby.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
The Prime Minister plans to 'rewire the state' and give more power to councils and mayors, who are better placed to deliver locally catered economic policy. Income tax sharing to mayors will be key to this. The UK is the most fiscally centralised country in the G7, holding back wages and growth.
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Will Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
It must help hugely that Burnham was previously MCR mayor - so understands completely the levers that can be more immediately pulled and the dysfunctionalities caused by misalignment of areas of authority. His Westminster predecessors will have lacked any attention to this sort of crucial detail.
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Centre for Cities @centreforcities.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Allowing mayors to keep a share of local income tax is unashamedly pro-growth and will remove anchors that have held back the UK’s cities for decades. It will be the most significant and welcome transfer of fiscal powers since the foundation of the modern welfare state.
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
The tax retention news is so big it has overshadowed some of chunky stuff in the press release that complements it and fills out the devolution strategy pursued by the new PM. Some initial reactions by me and some @centreforcities.bsky.social thinking below to get you started 👇
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Read not just for the title (pretty happy with that one) but for what the trials and tribulations Burnham went through for the MBacc tells us about his national policy plans and where devolution in the skills space still has further to go
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
We've got the biggest by-election in UK history happening tomorrow. We at @centreforcities.bsky.social have got you covered on the details 👇 Here's what the incoming Greater Manchester Mayor should focus on:
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Ant Breach @antbreach.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
This would be the most important local finance reform since Elizabeth I. Finally introducing local revenue sources that aren't property taxes will ensure places really benefit from local growth - more jobs and/or higher wages in a place will translate into more investment and services:
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Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Anyone trying to work out what ‘reindustrialisation’ means (including which sectors) and how the skills system and devolution might support it, should read this speech from Andy Burnham a few months ago (given while still GM Mayor). www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/news/mayor-s...
greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk
Home
Devolving control of skills and technical education can unleash the economic potential of the North
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Yunze Wang @yz18.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Excellent piece this. So glad the AMRC got a spotlight here. Curious to see what Burnham defines as “industry.” Notably, the GM reindustrialisation plan includes sectors like creative, digital and life sciences. The new government should include both production and services in that definition.
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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Amazing chart from my colleagues. Just 32 per cent of London's revenue funding comes from taxes – the smallest share of any G7 primary city. The GLA raises just $955 per person in revenue funding each year from taxes. In New York it’s x10 this. Briefing out today:
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
This is a nice piece from @yz18.bsky.social on getting caught up in the semantics of Burnham's speech. Based on how he's talked about 'reindustrialisation' as GM mayor, it's clear that this is not a backward-looking policy - far more aligned with the current Industrial Strategy (a good thing!)
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Much done, still more to do. Ahead of the first ever mayoral by-election, @xuanrulin.bsky.social summarises the tasks ahead for the next Manchester Mayor: 🎯Grow city centre strengths 🎯Bee Network rail 🎯More participation through devolved skills policy 🎯Densification in the urban core
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Having ticked off Newcastle this week, Leicester and Bradford are the biggest not yet visited. I'm now up to 36/63 of the cities we at @centreforcities.bsky.social look at. For anyone needing guidance these are the rules we play by!
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Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 03/07/2026
The railway used to have a load of nonsense brands (e.g. Great Northern, which only served the south or South Western, which didn't go to Cornwall and barely Devon). But the GBR future looks like being even worse. My blog post is on why needs a brand strategy to focus back on customers.
freewheeling.info
GBR Urgently needs a Brand Strategy — Freewheeling
The trains are being painted but it’s not yet clear what the brand is meant to mean. Brand strategy is not an afterthought - it’s a fundamental driver of customer experience. It should be one of the ...
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Where I argue Burnham's place-based experience and emphasis on local, public control is the right perspective to bring to national transport policy. This will be crucial to shape GBR to the new devolved policy landscape and to get DfT/industry out of 'joining up the national train-set' mindframe
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Still digesting yesterday's speech? Well, there were a couple of well-timed @centreforcities.bsky.social outputs last week that we think make great accompaniments. Short 🧵 👇
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Oscar Selby @oscarselby.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Andy Burnham wants to take "power out of the centre and put it in the hands of the people who can use it best". Guaranteeing mayor's a share of the tax generated in their area will be key to making this happen. Check out Centre for Cities new briefing for more detail: tinyurl.com/yjvpd7rb
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xuanrulin.bsky.social @xuanrulin.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
The Government needs big cities to deliver its growth mission. Our latest report looks at the strengths and challenges facing each of the UK's big cities, and what they mean for policymakers. Read the full report below, or start with my blog on the key findings: lnkd.in/eVg_wepW
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Alex Hern @hern.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
wish there was more engagement with the distinction between "net zero is bad" and "the UK leading the way on net zero is bad". former is nonsense talking from barely reformed climate denialists but the latter deserves a better answer than "oh you like climate change do you?"
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Dan Mead @danmead.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
As @jamesdaustin.bsky.social says we found young people in towns like Burnley, the ones doing the working(!), were much less likely to want the return of manufacturing Instead people understood the success of Manchester and wanted a part of it with better transport links
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
TfL's plans are a template for how other metro mayors should start thinking about their upcoming road powers in the context of their integrated transport plans. Even the best version of Bee Network buses will still get stuck in the Manchester morning peak traffic if these measures are ignored!
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
My latest blog: what is TfL doing about bus speeds? And how can other metro mayors learn from the plans? The takeaway is: serious integrated transport in big cities is a carrot and stick approach - ignore restrictions on private vehicles in congested areas at the expense of bus performance!
centreforcities.org
Slow buses: Big cities should take note of TfL’s answer to London bus speeds - Centre for Cities
TfL’s road strategy shows why road powers are central to improving London bus speeds and big city transport.
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Clue's in the name - focusing on big cities will lead to big national impacts. Come join us next week where we take you through why a government going for national economic growth should focus on the UK's largest urban areas, and how it feeds through to living standards 👇
centreforcities.org
Report launch - Big Cities Outlook - Centre for Cities
How are the UK's largest cities performing, and what does this mean for the national economy?
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Both have seen big reductions in deprivation. Focus in Manchester is on transport, while Liverpool have made strides in skills. But the underlying ingredients are the same: inclusion (through access to opportunities) and, crucially, underpinned by growth. It's the emphasis that differs.
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Good chat tying in a lot of things swimming around in the political discourse recently: deprivation, growth, Manchesterism, NEETs... Hopefully an interesting listen as we try to make sense of it all in the context of our big cities!
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
If you missed our thoughts on last week's Milburn Review and what role cities have in tackling England's youth employment challenges, check out the thread below 👇
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
See our work two years ago (!) showing this for hybrid working in central London. Young workers are keenest to be in the office. They have most to learn from senior colleagues - who prefer being at home, but may not be appreciating the externalities... www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Our quickfire thoughts on what the Milburn review means for cities and how the Govt should think about the opportunities for young people in its urban agenda. As an aside, refreshing to go through a 200+ page Review that is so incisive and well-written 🤯 Thread to follow 👇
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Centre for Cities @centreforcities.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
How should the Government and Low Pay Commission think about the future of the minimum wage? Our latest blog argues that understanding its local impact means looking beyond low-paid sectors to the strength of city economies 👇 buff.ly/JtRirwg
buff.ly
How sectors help to understand the spatial impact of the minimum wage - Centre for Cities
Why the minimum wage affects UK cities differently, and what this means for local labour markets.
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Nye Cominetti @nyecominetti.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Missed this from Rishi Sunak on minimum wage & youth unemployment. He calls for 1. scrap LPC 2. freeze min wage 3. keep a gap between youth and adult rates. I agree with retaining a youth-adult gap. But on the others ... 1/ archive.is/202605242037...
archive.is
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Matthew Holehouse @matthewholehouse.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
It is a "boost for Burnham", but it's much more a boost for the principle that if you stick to a regional growth strategy for 30+ years you can see productivity and living standard improvements at the end of it. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
independent.co.uk
Manchester sees biggest rise in living standards in boost for Burnham
The share of underprivileged inner-city neighbourhoods across the country has fallen significantly since 2010, driven by changes in big cities – such as Manchester, Liverpool and London
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Key point: Rising min wages have not led to unemployment - theory is because they have balanced employer (monopsony) power in concentrated labour markets. But cities are the most competitive labour mkts. So requires vigilance where min wage bite is high! (great title for a blog too!)
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Yunze Wang @yz18.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
London is suffering from a combination of: 1. UK-wide downturn in local services (retail, health, etc.); 2. Financial services being stagnant post-2008; 3. Other knowledge service growing but more slowly; 4. A fall in construction (not replicated in other large cities).
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
More steps towards the TfW T network here. But the biggest steps to better connect up Wrexham will come from buses. we've got the key insights to our Welsh city transport data tool here: www.centreforcities.org/blog/integra...
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
If you missed it last week, check out our work on how a national minimum wage shows up in the very different Labour markets of UK cities, and what this means for future rates
centreforcities.org
Pay check: The minimum wage in British cities - Centre for Cities
New Centre for Cities analysis shows that rising National Living Wage rates are having very different effects across UK cities and towns.
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Oof. Missed this the other day. By our measure Nottingham is the UK big city most reliant on the universities for local 'knowledge' jobs. One in four of all of these high skilled jobs in the city are academic and non academic staff in higher education. Could be a big blow
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Just one example on how the trajectory of a single headline rate has affected urban areas very differently. Some places it hasn't really altered the bottom of the local Labour market. Others, more and more workers are being brought within touching distance.
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Want to know what Transport for Wales' integrated transport plans could mean for Welsh cities? Come join me for a discussion about Welsh living standards and live demo of our latest data transport tool in a hour 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿: www.centreforcities.org/event/deep-d...
Connectivity map of Cardiff, showing extra population connected to city centre with an integrated network
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Economic performance varies a lot across UK cities. But the minimum wage doesn't. So it is playing a very different role in different urban labour markets. www.centreforcities.org/blog/the-myt...
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