| Town Planning | Community Development | Training & Skills Development | Local Economy | |
| focus | physical and socio-economic environment of urban areas | social systems of neighbourhoods/ local communities | individuals in their occupational roles | micro-economic system |
| disciplinary bases | economic & social
geography
| sociology and social psychology | occupational psychology; organisation studies | economics |
| relationship to employment | secondary: employment as effects of planning outcomes | secondary: employment opportunities arise in context of servicing community needs; level and type of employment affects community | primary: unemployment seen as consequence of mismatch of individual's skills with needs of labour market; training etc is intended to remedy this | secondary: employment affects and is affacted by economic activity |
| expertise | planning theory and practice; macro- and micro- economics; planning law; urban social problems; urban design | social analysis; group dynamics, group facilitation; networking; organising | training design and instructional skills; analysis of training needs; coaching and counselling; assessment | analysis of local economy including labour market; modelling of economic system, inward flows of money, circulation, outflows |
| entry to occupation | degree level; RTPI-approved courses at various universities | degrees in applied social studies relevant, but not pre-requisite; entry via activism; NVQs newly available | no formal entry requirements; Government funded schemes require assessors to hold relevant NVQs; professional body exists but membership usually follows entry to occupation | no formal entry requirements, but generally a requirement for degree in economics, business studies, or similar |