employment
economy
performance
Employment rates in the Greater West of England by sex and age, 2025/26
The data presented here show employment rates and employment levels in the Greater West of England by sex and age in 2025/26. Employment rates represent the proportion of people in paid work within the working-age population. Figures are based on the Annual Population Survey (APS), which covers a 12-month rolling period; for example, 2025/26 refers to April 2025 to March 2026.
The Greater West of England is defined here as Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire.
76.9%
Employment rate of females aged 16–64 in the Greater West of England, 2025/26 (Apr-Mar)
82.3%
Employment rate of males aged 16–64 in the Greater West of England, 2025/26 (Apr-Mar)
94%
Highest employment rate of any sex and age band in the Greater West of England: males aged 25–34
5.4 pp
Difference between male and female employment rates aged 16–64 in the Greater West of England, 2025/26 (Apr-Mar)
Employment rate in the Greater West of England by sex and age
This visualisation shows employment rates in the Greater West of England by sex and age group for 2025/26.
Employment rates are higher for males (82.3%) than females (76.9%) among people aged 16–64. In most age groups, males have higher employment rates than females. The exception is the 16–24 age group, where the female employment rate is 59.3% compared with 52% for males.
Across all age and sex groups shown, employment rates in the Greater West of England are higher than those recorded in the UK, including among males aged 65 and over, where the employment rate is 16.3% in the Greater West of England, compared with 15.7% in the UK.
Number of people in employment by sex and age in the Greater West of England
This visualisation shows the number of people in employment in the Greater West of England by sex and age group in 2025/26.
Among males, the largest number of people in employment is recorded for those aged 35–49 (230,600), followed by those aged 50–64 (190,000) and those aged 25–34 (157,700).
Among females, the largest number of people in employment is also recorded for those aged 35–49 (220,700), followed by those aged 50–64 (174,000) and those aged 25–34 (133,700).
The smallest numbers of people in employment are recorded among those aged 65 and over, followed by those aged 16–24.
Employment rate trends in the Greater West of England by sex
This visualisation shows employment rate trends for males and females aged 16–64 in the Greater West of England between 2004/05 and 2025/26.
Throughout the period, the male employment rate is higher than the female employment rate. The difference between the two rates has narrowed over time, from 12.3 percentage points (pp) in 2004/05 to 5.4 pp in 2025/26.
Over this period, the female employment rate increased from 71% to 76.9%. The male employment rate changed from 83.3% in 2004/05 to 82.3% in 2025/26.
Employment rate trends in the Greater West of England by age group
This visualisation shows employment rate trends for different age groups in the Greater West of England between 2004/05 and 2025/26.
Employment rates remain highest among people aged 35–49 and 25–34. In 2025/26, employment rates were 91.1% for those aged 35–49 and 88.7% for those aged 25–34.
Among people aged 50–64, the employment rate increased from 69.2% in 2004/05 to 75% in 2025/26. The employment rate for those aged 16–24 declined slightly over the period, from 65.3% in 2004/05 to 55.6% in 2025/26.
For people aged 65 and over, employment rates increased from 7.4% in 2004/05 to 14.5% in 2025/26.
