Part-time employment in the Greater West of England, 2025

2 Sept 2026

This data insight examines trends in part-time employment across the Greater West of England. It explores how part-time working has changed over time, how it varies by gender and age, and how the region compares with national benchmarks.

The analysis uses data from the Office for National Statistics Annual Population Survey (accessed via Nomis) up to 2025. Part-time employment is defined based on respondents’ self-classification and is presented as both the number of workers and as the percentage of all people in employment aged 16 and over. Figures are derived from survey responses collected over a 12-month period. Where comparisons are made, consistent definitions and denominators are used to ensure comparability across geographies and demographic groups.

The Greater West of England is defined here as Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire. Gloucestershire is included at both county and district level. England is used as a national comparator.

301,500

Part-time workers in the Greater West of England, 2025

23.71%

Percentage of employed peopled in the Greater West of England in part-time work (England: 22.9%), 2025

42%

Percentage of females in Bath and North East Somerset in part-time work (Males: 14.7%), 2025

69.27%

Percentage of 16-19-year olds in the Greater West of England in part-time work, 2025

Trends in part-time employment in the Greater West of England, 2005-2025

This visualisation shows the trends in part-time employment in the Greater West of England between 2005 and 2025, broken down by by gender.

Total part-time employment increased from 286,700 in 2005 to 301,500 in 2025. Part-time employment peaked at 341,100 in 2016.

Female workers consistently accounted for the majority of part-time employment, making up around three-quarters of all part-time workers throughout the period.

The number of female part-time workers peaked at 270,600 in 2016, while the number of male part-time workers peaked at 80,100 in 2019.

Trends in part-time employment rates, Greater West of England and England, 2005-2025

This visualisation shows how part-time employment rates have changed between 2005 and 2025 in the Greater West of England, compared with England.

The Greater West of England follows a similar trend to England. In 2005, the part-time employment rate was 26.12% in the Greater West of England and 24.6% in England. By 2025, these rates had fallen to 23.71% and 22.9%, respectively.

Female part-time employment rates remained significantly higher than male rates throughout the period. The female rate fell steadily from 46.12% in 2005 to 36.97% in 2025, while the rate for men increased from 9.2% to 11.43% over the same period.

Part-time employment rates by gender across the Greater West of England and England, 2025

This visualisation shows part-time employment rates across local authorities in the Greater West of England in 2025, with overall, female and male breakdowns.

Bath and North East Somerset has the highest overall part-time employment rate at 29.3%, followed by Gloucestershire at 24.9%. Swindon has the lowest rate in the region at 20.1%.

Across all areas, females consistently have higher part-time employment rates than males, with rates ranging from 30% to 40% for females and 7.7% to 15.5% for males.

The overall part-time employment rate for the Greater West of England is 23.71%, which is close to the England average of 22.9%.

Greater West of England part-time employment rates by age, 2025

This visualisation shows part-time employment rates by age group in the Greater West of England in 2025, with breakdowns for all workers, females and males.

Part-time employment is most prevalent among younger workers, with around 70% of those aged 16-19 working part-time. Rates are lower among those aged 20-24 at 24%, and 25-49 at 18.2%. The 50+ age group is higher at 35%.

Across all age groups, females consistently have higher part-time employment rates than males, with the gap most pronounced in the 25-49 and 50+ age groups.