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Rob Johnson

@rjson.bsky.social
426 followers 476 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 · 30/09/2026
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
Our explainer on the local skills and employment support system has more detail - much of the value comes from simplifying the current system with devolution the means to achieve a lot of that
centreforcities.org
Rewiring skills & employment support: How devolution can untangle the system - Centre for Cities
This explainer maps out the complex web of policies across education, skills, and employment support. It looks at the challenges and provides suggestions where devolution could untangle the system.
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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're doing plenty more to dissect the system over the next few weeks, so watch this space. And sign up to our event on how mayors can help tackle the NEETs crisis, with Mayor Oliver Coppard:
centreforcities.org
Reducing youth economic inactivity: The role of metro mayors - Centre for Cities
Join Centre for Cities and the Work Foundation for a discussion on how Metro Mayors can tackle youth economic inactivity, featuring a keynote address from Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire.
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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 · 27/08/2026
Meanwhile in Japan: - Wages related to local economic conditions - Local jurisdictions at the scale of local labour markets - Input of local expertise about economic conditions - Flexibility within a nationally coordinated system We think this points to a 'Mayoral LPC' model in the UK
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
What about varying across sectors, rather than geography? Italy - a country with similar regional variation to the UK - shows why this would not work. Wages set sectorally at a national level would not mitigate geography, as low paid sectors are relatively evenly spread
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
People tend to look at the US as an example of sub-national minimum wage variation. But it offers a poor example: variation without coordination, driven by politics and not particularly aligned to local economic performance. See also (to a lesser extent) Canada
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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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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
I agree the 16-19 stuff is pretty knotty, and devo could mean many different things in that space. Your example would be bad, a strategic/accountable mayoral role could simplify things a lot. Waiting for the details!
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Relatively, yes! Talk to any MSA and they would say it was, relative to the adult skills system before, and relative to other skills and employment policy areas
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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
Want to keep up with the biggest reshaping of the UK state in decades? We've got a 'Devolution Hub' to keep you informed that will be regularly updating over the coming weeks and months: www.centreforcities.org/devolution/
centreforcities.org
Devolution - Centre for Cities
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
And the important underlying announcement - resource will follow. Tax retention will do some of this, but important to have the right skills and people to deliver at the local level. Announcement rightly highlights that capacity building is a crucial part of this project.
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
(on devolution's role in delivering urban infrastructure and skills and employment support - expect some Centre for Cities work soon!)
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Skills: The focus on more devolution of 16-19 and employment support is the right focus, bringing them more in line with adult skills (a devolved success story). Both are complex, patchwork, and top-down which means many slipping through the cracks. Devo could rationalise and align a lot of this
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Greater control over big transport schemes is important too, as mayors look towards delivery of new infra. This (e.g., devolved TWAOs) combined with the extra fiscal firepower suggests a whole systems approach to unlocking urban investment. Though would require changes to national infra planning too
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Transport: Greater local control for rail would fill in the missing piece of truly integrated urban transport networks, expanding opportunities to >1m across the country. If GBR is shaped with this in mind (as signalled here), this could genuinely transform connectivity in our big cities:
centreforcities.org
All aboard for growth: Why rail reform is incomplete without rail devolution for England’s big cities - Centre for Cities
This briefing sets out how rail reform can fill in the missing piece of the integrated transport puzzle that would better connect 1.2 million more people in England’s six largest urban economies outsi...
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
If you were in any doubt this was a policy focused on growth:
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Income tax retention is huge, as it means when mayors grow their economies, they get to keep a portion of the rewards instead of it being siphoned off to Westminster. The more they focus on growth, the more they get to invest in their place. See our briefing on this from last month:
centreforcities.org
Fiscal devolution for England - Centre for Cities
This briefing provides evidence to support the Government’s decision to advance fiscal devolution and explains how it can use these reforms to achieve both higher growth and greater fairness across th...
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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
And here's a helpful explainer on the powers the new mayor will have at their disposal (published today!) www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
centreforcities.org
Understanding England’s mayors: The powers they have and the role they can play in delivering devolution - Centre for Cities
This briefing explains what powers mayors in England have and how they vary across the country.
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Here's why the election matters beyond the M60: www.centreforcities.org/blog/the-gre...
centreforcities.org
The Greater Manchester mayoral by-election matters beyond Manchester - Centre for Cities
The Greater Manchester mayoral by-election at the end of July could prove to be one of the most important political contests of the next few years.
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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
Didn't make it into this piece, but I agree! Reducing private traffic should be a key priority for GM's integrated transport strategy, as set out in this blog a couple of weeks ago (we've also got one on active travel in big cities coming out soon)
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 · 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
Join us in 10 minutes (!) for our primer on the the subject with the indomitable Tony Travers: 👇
centreforcities.org
Designing fiscal devolution for growth and fairness - Centre for Cities
With a Government roadmap expected later this year, this event explores how fiscal devolution can be designed to support both economic growth and fair funding across England.
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
With all the chat about more local powers: what is fiscal devolution and how could it be a radical reform for the shape of the UK economy? We've got a handy briefing on why it matters and the 5 tests that it must pass to be designed for fairness and growth: www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
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Rob Johnson @rjson.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Why do our big cities matter for regional imbalances? And what are the ingredients for their success? Our BIG CITIES OUTLOOK report sets out scale of the 9 largest places outside London and their importance for 'growth in every postcode': www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
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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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