Hours worked and second jobs in the Greater West of England, 2025

29 Jun 2026

This data insight describes working hours and the prevalence of second jobs across the Greater West of England. It presents long-term trends alongside the latest available data and compares the region with other regions and national benchmarks.

The analysis is based on data from the Annual Population Survey (APS), published by Nomis. The APS is a household survey that provides employment and labour market statistics based on rolling 12-month periods (October to September). Figures are presented as both counts and proportions of workers.

The indicators explore how the distribution of workers across weekly hour bands has evolved over time, how this varies across local authorities within the Greater West of England, and how the region compares to combined authorities, constituencies and national benchmarks.

The Greater West of England is defined here as Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire. Gloucestershire estimates are aggregated from its constituent districts; Cheltenham, Cotswold, Forest of Dean, Gloucester, Stroud and Tewkesbury.

Together, these data provide a comprehensive overview of working patterns and labour market activity in the region.

232,200

People working 45 hours or more per week in the Greater West of England, 2025

51%

Workers in the Greater West of England who worked 35-44 hours per week, 2025

23.22%

Male workers in the Greater West of England who worked 45 hours or more per week, 2025

58,500

Workers in the Greater West of England with a second job, 2025

Weekly hours worked in the Greater West of England, 2005-2025

This visualisation shows how the distribution of workers across four weekly hour bands has changed between 2005 and 2025.

Total employment increased steadily over the period, rising from around 1.1 million workers in 2005 to 1.3 million by 2025.

The 35-44 hour band consistently accounts for the largest share of workers, increasing from 497,000 in 2005 to a peaking of 672,000 in 2025. Employment in the 10–34 hour band also grew over the period, while the number of people working fewer than 10 hours remains relatively low.

The 45 hours or more band records the only negative change, dropping from 286,000 workers in 2005 to 232,000 workers in 2025.

Weekly hours worked in the Greater West of England, compared to combined authority areas and national benchmarks, 2025

This visualisation compares the distribution of workers across weekly hour bands in combined authority areas, regions and England as a whole in 2025.

Across all areas, the 35-44 hours category accounts for the largest share of workers (70-75%), highlighting the continued prevalence of standard full-time employment. The proportion working fewer than 10 hours per week is small in every area.

Greater Manchester records the highest proportion of workers in the 35-44 hour band (59%), while Grater Lincolnshire has the lowest (43.5%). The Greater West of England (51%) is broadly in line with England as a whole (52%).

The Greater West of England has 4.1% of workers in the under 10-hours band, a higher proportion than most combined authorities. Only the West of England (4.5%) and Devon and Torbay (4.9%) record higher shares.

Hours worked within the Greater West of England, 2025

This visualisation shows the distribution of workers across weekly hour bands for local authorities within the Greater West of England in 2025, alongside national comparators.

The 35-44 hour band remains the common working pattern. Bristol has the highest proportion of workers in this category (53.6%), while Bath and North East Somerset has the lowest (44.8%).

Bath and North East Somerset has the highest proportion of workers in the under 10 hours band (10.2%), while South Gloucestershire has the lowest (2.9%).

Within Gloucestershire’s district areas, the 35-44 hour band also dominates, ranging from 38% in Stroud to 58% in Cotswold.

Overall, the Greater West of England broadly mirrors national working patterns, although local differences highlight variations in labour market structure across the region.

Hours worked by gender in the Greater West of England, 2025

This visualisation shows differences in weekly working hours by gender in the Greater West of England, with comparisons to England as a whole.

Among female workers, the largest proportions are in the 10–34 hour band (40.5%) and the 35–44 hour band (42.1%). Among male workers, the largest proportions work 35–44 hours per week (59%), or 45 hours or more (23.2%).

A similar pattern is seen nationally. In England, 40% of female workers are in the 10–34 hour band and 45% are in the 35–44 hour band. Among male workers, 58.2% work 35–44 hours per week and 25.6% work 45 hours or more.

Trend in workers with a second job across the Greater West of England, 2005-2025

This visualisation shows trends in the number of workers with a second job between 2005 and 2025, broken down by gender.

Throughout the period, women hold a second job more often than men. The number of women with a second job peaks at 38,000 in 2018. For men, the highest figure is 24,000 in 2014.

The overall number of workers with a second job increases from 32,300 in 2005 to 58,500 in 2025, indicating a substantial rise over the past two decades.