Jobs density

Key points

• In 2023 Fylde had the highest jobs density in Lancashire at 1.11
• Fylde was ranked 25^th highest out of 350 Great Britain authorities
• Preston (1.01) and Ribble Valley (0.9) also had higher densities than GB
• The average density in the Lancashire-12 area (0.76) was much lower than the Great Britain density (0.86)

Introduction 

Jobs density figures for 2023 are available down to the local authority level in Great Britain. In all previous years they have been available for Northern Ireland authorities as well and consequently for the United Kingdom. For this year we can only make comparisons within Great Britain. Jobs density is defined as the number of jobs in an area divided by the resident population aged 16-64 in that area. For example, a jobs density of 1.0 would mean that there is one job for every resident aged 16-64. It is apparent that not everybody in this age-group would be in employment or actively seeking work, therefore the UK average is well below a job density figure of 1.0. It is generally by comparison with the national density that we can determine whether there are more workers resident in an area travelling outside the area to work than those travelling in, or vice versa, although it depends on the age structure and local demographics.

The total number of jobs is a workplace-based measure and comprises employee jobs, self-employed, government-supported trainees and HM Forces. The total jobs numbers are greater than the employment estimates derived from the business register employment survey, because they encompass a wider definition of the jobs market that includes the self-employed.

The results have been downloaded from the National Online Manpower Information Service website.

Definition of the Lancashire areas used in this report

The Lancashire-12 area is comprised of the 12 local authorities that lie within the Lancashire County Council administrative boundary. The Lancashire-14 area incorporates the two additional unitary authorities of Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool and has the same geographic footprint as the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area.

Analysis of the Lancashire areas, North West and GB figures

In 2023 the jobs density rate of 0.76 for Lancashire-12 and 0.77 for Lancashire-14 were below both the GB average of 0.86 and the North West rate of 0.83.

Fylde (1.11) had a jobs density rate which, in 25^th place, fell inside the top 10% of the UK rankings of 350 local authority areas in place as at March 31^st 2023.

Preston (1.01) and Ribble Valley (0.9) were the other Lancashire-12 authorities with jobs density rates in excess of the GB average.

There are some large employers in Fylde in the manufacturing sector (aircraft and nuclear fuel) while Preston has a diverse economy that includes significant levels of both public and private service sector employment and benefits from its strategic location in central Lancashire. 

Rossendale (0.55), Wyre and Pendle (both 0.59) recorded the lowest job density rates in the Lancashire-14 area, falling into the bottom 20% of the GB rankings. Many residents within these areas commute to jobs outside of their respective district boundaries. The average earnings results confirm that these three authorities, but particularly Rossendale and Wyre, have lower levels of workplace-based earnings, and better earnings by place of residence. These figures indicate that many residents commute outside their respective areas for better paid jobs.

Figure 1. Jobs density rates, ranks and total job numbers in Great Britain (Microsoft Power BI slide)

The City of London had a jobs density rate (66.02) in 2023 that was far in excess of any other area, although it had been as high as 102.32 in 2019. Usually the small size and population of the authority, combined with a high concentration of financial institutions and other organisations, results in a huge job to resident ratio. The extent of the difference can be seen by comparing the figures for Westminster (5.33) and the neighbouring borough of Camden (2.71) ranked in second and third positions, respectively. Islington in 4^th place with a jobs density of 1.67, Southwark, 5^th on 1.53, Tower Hamlets in 7^th on 1.46, and Kensington and Chelsea in 8^th place on 1.45 are all London Boroughs.

Dacorum, in 6^th place with a density of 1.47 is in the East of England, but very near to London. North Warwickshire in the West Midlands region came in 9^th with 1.41. Winchester, near the south coast, completed the top 10 with a density of 1.3. Positions 11 and joint 12^th were taken by authorities in the North West region: Warrington with 1.26 and neighbouring metropolitan authorities Trafford and Manchester (both 1.21).

Lewisham (0.43) often recorded the lowest rate in the UK, but in 2023 it was once more the Scottish authority of East Renfrewshire (0.40), just south of the high density authority of Glasgow City.

The number of jobs, jobs density and rank of all UK authorities is also available as a Microsoft Excel download

Page updated March 2025