Residents aged 16 to 64 in work, every council ranked
Residents aged 16 to 64 in work, employed or self employed, from a survey, so a small council carries a wide margin. Figures for April 2025 to March 2026, published for 359 councils in the UK. Lowest first: the order says where a council sits, not whether that is good.
Lowest: Gravesham, 59.7%. The council in the middle: Powys, 76.3%. Highest: Orkney Islands, 91.4%.
| Place | Council | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GraveshamSouth East | 59.7% |
| 2 | HastingsSouth East | 61.7% |
| 3 | Blaenau GwentWales | 63% |
| 4 | HyndburnNorth West | 63.6% |
| 5 | Kingston upon HullYorkshire and the Humber | 63.7% |
| 6 | OldhamNorth West | 64.3% |
| 7 joint | SandwellWest Midlands | 64.6% |
| 7 joint | South TynesideNorth East | 64.6% |
| 9 | Rhondda Cynon TafWales | 65.3% |
| 10 | Blackburn with DarwenNorth West | 65.4% |
| 11 joint | Kensington and ChelseaLondon | 65.6% |
| 11 joint | SwanseaWales | 65.6% |
| 13 | HartlepoolNorth East | 65.7% |
| 14 | InverclydeScotland | 65.9% |
| 15 | MiddlesbroughNorth East | 66% |
| 16 joint | LutonEast of England | 66.1% |
| 16 joint | NottinghamEast Midlands | 66.1% |
| 18 | Derry City and StrabaneNorthern Ireland | 66.5% |
| 19 | BirminghamWest Midlands | 66.8% |
| 20 | TendringEast of England | 67% |
| 21 joint | LeicesterEast Midlands | 67.1% |
| 21 joint | RochdaleNorth West | 67.1% |
| 23 | Glasgow CityScotland | 67.2% |
| 24 | East LindseyEast Midlands | 67.4% |
| 25 joint | BelfastNorthern Ireland | 67.8% |
| 25 joint | BlackpoolNorth West | 67.8% |
| 27 | WalsallWest Midlands | 68.1% |
| 28 | EnfieldLondon | 68.3% |
| 29 joint | Causeway Coast and GlensNorthern Ireland | 68.7% |
| 29 joint | FyldeNorth West | 68.7% |
| 31 | WrexhamWales | 68.8% |
| 32 | Argyll and ButeScotland | 68.9% |
| 33 joint | BridgendWales | 69% |
| 33 joint | Newcastle-under-LymeWest Midlands | 69% |
| 35 joint | BradfordYorkshire and the Humber | 69.1% |
| 35 joint | North WarwickshireWest Midlands | 69.1% |
| 35 joint | RenfrewshireScotland | 69.1% |
| 38 | NewhamLondon | 69.2% |
| 39 joint | Barking and DagenhamLondon | 69.3% |
| 39 joint | CamdenLondon | 69.3% |
| 39 joint | Dundee CityScotland | 69.3% |
| 39 joint | EastbourneSouth East | 69.3% |
| 43 | CanterburySouth East | 69.4% |
| 44 | BoltonNorth West | 69.5% |
| 45 | BuryNorth West | 69.6% |
| 46 | WolverhamptonWest Midlands | 69.8% |
| 47 joint | BurnleyNorth West | 70% |
| 47 joint | Merthyr TydfilWales | 70% |
| 47 joint | Na h-Eileanan SiarScotland | 70% |
| 50 | SunderlandNorth East | 70.1% |
| 51 joint | BolsoverEast Midlands | 70.2% |
| 51 joint | RotherhamYorkshire and the Humber | 70.2% |
| 53 | West DunbartonshireScotland | 70.3% |
| 54 | High PeakEast Midlands | 70.5% |
| 55 | Folkestone and HytheSouth East | 70.6% |
| 56 joint | CalderdaleYorkshire and the Humber | 70.7% |
| 56 joint | KirkleesYorkshire and the Humber | 70.7% |
| 58 joint | BroxtoweEast Midlands | 70.8% |
| 58 joint | MansfieldEast Midlands | 70.8% |
| 58 joint | SalfordNorth West | 70.8% |
| 61 joint | Neath Port TalbotWales | 70.9% |
| 61 joint | Staffordshire MoorlandsWest Midlands | 70.9% |
| 63 | ConwyWales | 71.1% |
| 64 joint | LiverpoolNorth West | 71.2% |
| 64 joint | TorridgeSouth West | 71.2% |
| 66 | CaerphillyWales | 71.3% |
| 67 joint | MaldonEast of England | 71.4% |
| 67 joint | South HamsSouth West | 71.4% |
| 69 | SheffieldYorkshire and the Humber | 71.6% |
| 70 joint | BrentLondon | 71.7% |
| 70 joint | CoventryWest Midlands | 71.7% |
| 70 joint | HaringeyLondon | 71.7% |
| 73 joint | CeredigionWales | 71.8% |
| 73 joint | KnowsleyNorth West | 71.8% |
| 75 | AngusScotland | 71.9% |
| 76 | Newcastle upon TyneNorth East | 72% |
| 77 | WiganNorth West | 72.1% |
| 78 | Hammersmith and FulhamLondon | 72.2% |
| 79 joint | BarnsleyYorkshire and the Humber | 72.3% |
| 79 joint | RedbridgeLondon | 72.3% |
| 81 joint | GatesheadNorth East | 72.4% |
| 81 joint | HillingdonLondon | 72.4% |
| 81 joint | HounslowLondon | 72.4% |
| 81 joint | NorwichEast of England | 72.4% |
| 85 | ThanetSouth East | 72.5% |
| 86 joint | Bath and North East SomersetSouth West | 72.6% |
| 86 joint | HighlandScotland | 72.6% |
| 86 joint | WatfordEast of England | 72.6% |
| 86 joint | Wyre ForestWest Midlands | 72.6% |
| 90 joint | DerbyEast Midlands | 72.7% |
| 90 joint | Redcar and ClevelandNorth East | 72.7% |
| 90 joint | Richmond upon ThamesLondon | 72.7% |
| 90 joint | Tower HamletsLondon | 72.7% |
| 90 joint | WyreNorth West | 72.7% |
| 95 joint | North NorfolkEast of England | 72.8% |
| 95 joint | NorthumberlandNorth East | 72.8% |
| 95 joint | Tonbridge and MallingSouth East | 72.8% |
| 98 | North East LincolnshireYorkshire and the Humber | 72.9% |
| 99 | BarnetLondon | 73% |
| 100 joint | AshfieldEast Midlands | 73.2% |
| 100 joint | East AyrshireScotland | 73.2% |
| 100 joint | Isle of AngleseyWales | 73.2% |
| 100 joint | StirlingScotland | 73.2% |
| 104 joint | HertsmereEast of England | 73.3% |
| 104 joint | IslingtonLondon | 73.3% |
| 104 joint | SouthamptonSouth East | 73.3% |
| 107 | Fermanagh and OmaghNorthern Ireland | 73.4% |
| 108 joint | FifeScotland | 73.5% |
| 108 joint | Forest of DeanSouth West | 73.5% |
| 108 joint | Stockton-on-TeesNorth East | 73.5% |
| 111 joint | Isle of WightSouth East | 73.6% |
| 111 joint | North AyrshireScotland | 73.6% |
| 111 joint | North LanarkshireScotland | 73.6% |
| 111 joint | TamesideNorth West | 73.6% |
| 115 joint | BostonEast Midlands | 73.7% |
| 115 joint | BrentwoodEast of England | 73.7% |
| 115 joint | CardiffWales | 73.7% |
| 115 joint | DarlingtonNorth East | 73.7% |
| 115 joint | GosportSouth East | 73.7% |
| 120 joint | County DurhamNorth East | 73.8% |
| 120 joint | CroydonLondon | 73.8% |
| 120 joint | StockportNorth West | 73.8% |
| 123 joint | East DunbartonshireScotland | 73.9% |
| 123 joint | SevenoaksSouth East | 73.9% |
| 123 joint | WirralNorth West | 73.9% |
| 126 | DenbighshireWales | 74% |
| 127 | ChelmsfordEast of England | 74.2% |
| 128 joint | ColchesterEast of England | 74.3% |
| 128 joint | RutlandEast Midlands | 74.3% |
| 128 joint | SeftonNorth West | 74.3% |
| 128 joint | South AyrshireScotland | 74.3% |
| 132 | North LincolnshireYorkshire and the Humber | 74.4% |
| 133 joint | Stoke-on-TrentWest Midlands | 74.5% |
| 133 joint | Vale of GlamorganWales | 74.5% |
| 135 joint | AshfordSouth East | 74.7% |
| 135 joint | ClackmannanshireScotland | 74.7% |
| 135 joint | TorfaenWales | 74.7% |
| 138 joint | CharnwoodEast Midlands | 74.8% |
| 138 joint | ExeterSouth West | 74.8% |
| 138 joint | Great YarmouthEast of England | 74.8% |
| 141 joint | HaltonNorth West | 74.9% |
| 141 joint | ManchesterNorth West | 74.9% |
| 141 joint | PembrokeshireWales | 74.9% |
| 141 joint | RossendaleNorth West | 74.9% |
| 141 joint | SloughSouth East | 74.9% |
| 146 | HarrowLondon | 75% |
| 147 joint | GreenwichLondon | 75.1% |
| 147 joint | North TynesideNorth East | 75.1% |
| 149 | SuttonLondon | 75.2% |
| 150 | CumberlandNorth West | 75.3% |
| 151 joint | BaberghEast of England | 75.4% |
| 151 joint | EalingLondon | 75.4% |
| 151 joint | Mid and East AntrimNorthern Ireland | 75.4% |
| 151 joint | PrestonNorth West | 75.4% |
| 151 joint | RochfordEast of England | 75.4% |
| 151 joint | WakefieldYorkshire and the Humber | 75.4% |
| 157 joint | CarmarthenshireWales | 75.5% |
| 157 joint | SouthwarkLondon | 75.5% |
| 159 joint | DudleyWest Midlands | 75.6% |
| 159 joint | SolihullWest Midlands | 75.6% |
| 159 joint | WaverleySouth East | 75.6% |
| 159 joint | WorcesterWest Midlands | 75.6% |
| 163 joint | DoncasterYorkshire and the Humber | 75.7% |
| 163 joint | RedditchWest Midlands | 75.7% |
| 163 joint | St. HelensNorth West | 75.7% |
| 166 joint | East RenfrewshireScotland | 75.8% |
| 166 joint | LeedsYorkshire and the Humber | 75.8% |
| 166 joint | Newark and SherwoodEast Midlands | 75.8% |
| 169 joint | ElmbridgeSouth East | 75.9% |
| 169 joint | Malvern HillsWest Midlands | 75.9% |
| 169 joint | MertonLondon | 75.9% |
| 172 joint | LambethLondon | 76% |
| 172 joint | Perth and KinrossScotland | 76% |
| 172 joint | StevenageEast of England | 76% |
| 172 joint | TandridgeSouth East | 76% |
| 176 | SwindonSouth West | 76.1% |
| 177 joint | DoverSouth East | 76.2% |
| 177 joint | South LanarkshireScotland | 76.2% |
| 179 joint | IpswichEast of England | 76.3% |
| 179 joint | PowysWales | 76.3% |
| 181 joint | AberdeenshireScotland | 76.4% |
| 181 joint | Antrim and NewtownabbeyNorthern Ireland | 76.4% |
| 183 joint | East Riding of YorkshireYorkshire and the Humber | 76.5% |
| 183 joint | North KestevenEast Midlands | 76.5% |
| 185 joint | NewportWales | 76.6% |
| 185 joint | West NorthamptonshireEast Midlands | 76.6% |
| 187 joint | TorbaySouth West | 76.7% |
| 187 joint | Welwyn HatfieldEast of England | 76.7% |
| 189 joint | CornwallSouth West | 76.8% |
| 189 joint | TewkesburySouth West | 76.8% |
| 191 joint | Brighton and HoveSouth East | 76.9% |
| 191 joint | Newry, Mourne and DownNorthern Ireland | 76.9% |
| 191 joint | Test ValleySouth East | 76.9% |
| 191 joint | Tunbridge WellsSouth East | 76.9% |
| 195 joint | North East DerbyshireEast Midlands | 77% |
| 195 joint | West SuffolkEast of England | 77% |
| 197 | Oadby and WigstonEast Midlands | 77.1% |
| 198 joint | King's Lynn and West NorfolkEast of England | 77.2% |
| 198 joint | ThurrockEast of England | 77.2% |
| 200 joint | Aberdeen CityScotland | 77.3% |
| 200 joint | GwyneddWales | 77.3% |
| 200 joint | South KestevenEast Midlands | 77.3% |
| 200 joint | WarringtonNorth West | 77.3% |
| 204 joint | Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleSouth West | 77.4% |
| 204 joint | West LindseyEast Midlands | 77.4% |
| 206 | FlintshireWales | 77.5% |
| 207 | PlymouthSouth West | 77.6% |
| 208 joint | ChesterfieldEast Midlands | 77.7% |
| 208 joint | LancasterNorth West | 77.7% |
| 208 joint | Telford and WrekinWest Midlands | 77.7% |
| 211 joint | FenlandEast of England | 77.8% |
| 211 joint | PortsmouthSouth East | 77.8% |
| 213 | St AlbansEast of England | 77.9% |
| 214 joint | BassetlawEast Midlands | 78% |
| 214 joint | MonmouthshireWales | 78% |
| 214 joint | North YorkshireYorkshire and the Humber | 78% |
| 214 joint | SwaleSouth East | 78% |
| 218 joint | HuntingdonshireEast of England | 78.1% |
| 218 joint | Milton KeynesSouth East | 78.1% |
| 218 joint | PeterboroughEast of England | 78.1% |
| 218 joint | South RibbleNorth West | 78.1% |
| 222 | Stratford-on-AvonWest Midlands | 78.2% |
| 223 joint | Cheshire EastNorth West | 78.3% |
| 223 joint | HackneyLondon | 78.3% |
| 223 joint | HartSouth East | 78.3% |
| 223 joint | Ribble ValleyNorth West | 78.3% |
| 223 joint | SomersetSouth West | 78.3% |
| 228 joint | ArunSouth East | 78.4% |
| 228 joint | MorayScotland | 78.4% |
| 230 joint | East HampshireSouth East | 78.5% |
| 230 joint | Shetland IslandsScotland | 78.5% |
| 232 joint | Amber ValleyEast Midlands | 78.6% |
| 232 joint | Armagh City, Banbridge and CraigavonNorthern Ireland | 78.6% |
| 232 joint | East LothianScotland | 78.6% |
| 232 joint | FalkirkScotland | 78.6% |
| 232 joint | Scottish BordersScotland | 78.6% |
| 232 joint | West DevonSouth West | 78.6% |
| 238 | SpelthorneSouth East | 78.7% |
| 239 joint | Dumfries and GallowayScotland | 78.8% |
| 239 joint | Lisburn and CastlereaghNorthern Ireland | 78.8% |
| 239 joint | RugbyWest Midlands | 78.8% |
| 239 joint | RushcliffeEast Midlands | 78.8% |
| 239 joint | WokinghamSouth East | 78.8% |
| 244 joint | BexleyLondon | 78.9% |
| 244 joint | GloucesterSouth West | 78.9% |
| 244 joint | Windsor and MaidenheadSouth East | 78.9% |
| 247 | BrecklandEast of England | 79% |
| 248 joint | LewishamLondon | 79.1% |
| 248 joint | TraffordNorth West | 79.1% |
| 250 joint | Southend-on-SeaEast of England | 79.2% |
| 250 joint | TamworthWest Midlands | 79.2% |
| 252 joint | Ards and North DownNorthern Ireland | 79.3% |
| 252 joint | BraintreeEast of England | 79.3% |
| 252 joint | CheltenhamSouth West | 79.3% |
| 252 joint | HaveringLondon | 79.3% |
| 252 joint | ShropshireWest Midlands | 79.3% |
| 252 joint | Vale of White HorseSouth East | 79.3% |
| 252 joint | WinchesterSouth East | 79.3% |
| 259 joint | BasildonEast of England | 79.4% |
| 259 joint | CambridgeEast of England | 79.4% |
| 259 joint | GedlingEast Midlands | 79.4% |
| 259 joint | Mid SussexSouth East | 79.4% |
| 263 joint | Mid SuffolkEast of England | 79.5% |
| 263 joint | Nuneaton and BedworthWest Midlands | 79.5% |
| 263 joint | South DerbyshireEast Midlands | 79.5% |
| 266 joint | East HertfordshireEast of England | 79.6% |
| 266 joint | MidlothianScotland | 79.6% |
| 266 joint | North NorthamptonshireEast Midlands | 79.6% |
| 266 joint | North West LeicestershireEast Midlands | 79.6% |
| 266 joint | PendleNorth West | 79.6% |
| 266 joint | Reigate and BansteadSouth East | 79.6% |
| 266 joint | RotherSouth East | 79.6% |
| 266 joint | UttlesfordEast of England | 79.6% |
| 274 | Waltham ForestLondon | 79.7% |
| 275 joint | BristolSouth West | 79.8% |
| 275 joint | LincolnEast Midlands | 79.8% |
| 275 joint | New ForestSouth East | 79.8% |
| 275 joint | RunnymedeSouth East | 79.8% |
| 279 joint | Epsom and EwellSouth East | 79.9% |
| 279 joint | North SomersetSouth West | 79.9% |
| 279 joint | YorkYorkshire and the Humber | 79.9% |
| 282 | Mid UlsterNorthern Ireland | 80% |
| 283 joint | DorsetSouth West | 80.1% |
| 283 joint | LichfieldWest Midlands | 80.1% |
| 285 joint | Basingstoke and DeaneSouth East | 80.2% |
| 285 joint | DartfordSouth East | 80.2% |
| 287 joint | BromleyLondon | 80.3% |
| 287 joint | South StaffordshireWest Midlands | 80.3% |
| 287 joint | WestminsterLondon | 80.3% |
| 290 joint | ChorleyNorth West | 80.4% |
| 290 joint | Westmorland and FurnessNorth West | 80.4% |
| 292 joint | BromsgroveWest Midlands | 80.5% |
| 292 joint | Kingston upon ThamesLondon | 80.5% |
| 292 joint | WealdenSouth East | 80.5% |
| 295 | BuckinghamshireSouth East | 80.6% |
| 296 joint | City of EdinburghScotland | 80.7% |
| 296 joint | EastleighSouth East | 80.7% |
| 298 | StaffordWest Midlands | 80.9% |
| 299 joint | Cheshire West and ChesterNorth West | 81% |
| 299 joint | HarlowEast of England | 81% |
| 299 joint | MedwaySouth East | 81% |
| 299 joint | West LancashireNorth West | 81% |
| 303 | ReadingSouth East | 81.2% |
| 304 joint | Bracknell ForestSouth East | 81.4% |
| 304 joint | South HollandEast Midlands | 81.4% |
| 306 joint | AdurSouth East | 81.5% |
| 306 joint | South NorfolkEast of England | 81.5% |
| 306 joint | West BerkshireSouth East | 81.5% |
| 306 joint | WiltshireSouth West | 81.5% |
| 310 joint | BedfordEast of England | 81.7% |
| 310 joint | OxfordSouth East | 81.7% |
| 312 | Epping ForestEast of England | 81.9% |
| 313 | RushmoorSouth East | 82% |
| 314 | HerefordshireWest Midlands | 82.1% |
| 315 | ErewashEast Midlands | 82.2% |
| 316 joint | Cannock ChaseWest Midlands | 82.3% |
| 316 joint | South CambridgeshireEast of England | 82.3% |
| 318 | HavantSouth East | 82.4% |
| 319 joint | CotswoldSouth West | 82.5% |
| 319 joint | GuildfordSouth East | 82.5% |
| 319 joint | Three RiversEast of England | 82.5% |
| 322 | Hinckley and BosworthEast Midlands | 82.6% |
| 323 | Castle PointEast of England | 82.7% |
| 324 | MaidstoneSouth East | 82.8% |
| 325 joint | BroxbourneEast of England | 83.3% |
| 325 joint | HarboroughEast Midlands | 83.3% |
| 325 joint | TeignbridgeSouth West | 83.3% |
| 328 joint | ChichesterSouth East | 83.4% |
| 328 joint | East SuffolkEast of England | 83.4% |
| 328 joint | WarwickWest Midlands | 83.4% |
| 331 | LewesSouth East | 83.5% |
| 332 | West LothianScotland | 83.6% |
| 333 | South OxfordshireSouth East | 83.7% |
| 334 | South GloucestershireSouth West | 83.8% |
| 335 | WokingSouth East | 83.9% |
| 336 | MeltonEast Midlands | 84% |
| 337 | Derbyshire DalesEast Midlands | 84.1% |
| 338 joint | North HertfordshireEast of England | 84.2% |
| 338 joint | WychavonWest Midlands | 84.2% |
| 340 | StroudSouth West | 84.5% |
| 341 | BroadlandEast of England | 84.8% |
| 342 joint | Mole ValleySouth East | 85.1% |
| 342 joint | WandsworthLondon | 85.1% |
| 344 | East StaffordshireWest Midlands | 85.2% |
| 345 | BlabyEast Midlands | 85.3% |
| 346 | Central BedfordshireEast of England | 85.4% |
| 347 | East CambridgeshireEast of England | 85.6% |
| 348 | North DevonSouth West | 85.9% |
| 349 | CherwellSouth East | 86% |
| 350 | Mid DevonSouth West | 86.2% |
| 351 joint | DacorumEast of England | 87.5% |
| 351 joint | East DevonSouth West | 87.5% |
| 353 | FarehamSouth East | 87.6% |
| 354 | West OxfordshireSouth East | 88.1% |
| 355 | HorshamSouth East | 88.7% |
| 356 | WorthingSouth East | 88.8% |
| 357 | Surrey HeathSouth East | 89.9% |
| 358 | CrawleySouth East | 90% |
| 359 | Orkney IslandsScotland | 91.4% |
Not in this list
- City of London and Isles of Scilly. Too few people in them were surveyed for ONS to publish it.
ONS Annual Population Survey, employment rate aged 16 to 64, April 2025 to March 2026, from NOMIS; NISRA, Labour Force Survey tables for Local Government Districts, January to December 2025 · April 2025 to March 2026 · fetched 22 October 2026 · How this is measured
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