Regional development through freeports: an evaluation of the potential local employment effects of the East Midlands Freeport

Laycock, S, Stack, M ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9213-7607 and Rossiter, W ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2199-1136, 2026. Regional development through freeports: an evaluation of the potential local employment effects of the East Midlands Freeport. Local Economy. ISSN 0269-0942 (Forthcoming)

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Abstract

Freeports were reintroduced in the UK as part of the post-Brexit levelling up agenda. Although freeports have the potential to create jobs, the evidence is mixed. This study assesses the potential employment effects associated with the East Midlands Freeport. The results for the core scenario suggest that the freeport increases the number of jobs in the D2N2 region with a high proportion of jobs created in the high-skilled occupation categories. In evaluating the sensitivity of the number of jobs created, changes to key parameters indicate that the freeport will create fewer jobs the lower the occupancy rate and the higher the displacement effect. In evaluating the sensitivity of the type of jobs created, modifications to the sectoral mix indicate that the number of high-skilled jobs is reduced if the site is logistics-oriented or is more broadly defined in line with an inclusive growth strategy. In illustrating the quantity and the quality of labour effects of freeports, the findings highlight potential tensions between maximising the imperative to maximise occupancy rate versus greater selectivity towards higher-quality jobs; minimising displacement effects, whether regional or national; and targeting growth-driving priority sectors versus an inclusive industrial strategy that better matches the region’s existing sectoral strengths.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Local Economy
Creators:	Laycock, S., Stack, M. and Rossiter, W.
Publisher:	Sage
Date:	21 February 2026
ISSN:	0269-0942
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1177/02690942261431746 DOI 2582811 Other
Rights:	This is the Accepted Version of the article and reuse is restricted to non-commercial and no derivative uses.
Divisions:	Schools > Nottingham Business School
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	26 Feb 2026 09:57
Last Modified:	26 Feb 2026 09:57
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/55338

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