CORNWALL’S economy is ‘sliding away’ from the rest of England.

That’s the verdict of a report by think-tank Localis, published today.

The report concludes workers in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are some of the worst rewarded and least productive in England.

The workforce is low-skilled and so is its job profile.

Localis suggests the country’s industrial strategy should introduce a local labour market strategy and a plan to improve the quality of employment locally.

The report includes national polling on people’s attitudes towards the economy.

Jack Airey, head of research at Localis said: ‘Cornwall and Isles of Scilly is literally being left behind by the rest of the economy.

‘Reward is significantly lower than in other parts of the country and, in the last five years, it has stratified away from the median. Cornwall and Isles of Scilly is too characterised by its past industrial make-up.

‘Without significant intervention from central and local government, there is a risk it will slide further away from the rest of the country.’