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Economy and work in Birmingham

Metropolitan borough

The middle of the West Midlands. 1,176,960 people in 268 square kilometres.

4 layers about economy and work for Birmingham, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.

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Claimants by neighbourhood

Claimant count (Nomis) · August 2026

Under 1070 or more

Birmingham’s 659 neighbourhoods range from 5 to 465.

Median full-time pay

CouncilGreat Britain only
£35,989
ONS earnings survey · 2025

Full-time workers living in Birmingham earned a median of £35,989 in 2025.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Median full-time pay: Birmingham among every council348 areas from £29,805 to £57,396. The middle area is £38,490. Birmingham is £35,989.

People claiming out-of-work benefits

Council
77,930
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Birmingham, 77,930 people were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

Open in mapSource and method
People claiming out-of-work benefits: Birmingham among every council361 areas from 20 to 77,930. The middle area is 2,690. Birmingham is 77,930.

Claimant rate

Council
10.1%
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Birmingham, 10.1% of residents aged 16 to 64 were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

For the UK as a whole, the figure was 3.9%.

Against West Midlands
1.9 times5.3%
Against the UK
2.6 times3.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Claimant rate: Birmingham among every council361 areas from 1.1% to 10.1%. The middle area is 3.2%. Birmingham is 10.1%.

Employment rate

CouncilGreat Britain only
66.8%
ONS population survey · Mar 2026

66.8% of people aged 16 to 64 in Birmingham were in work in the year to March 2026.

Birmingham is 18th lowest of 348 for employment rate.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Employment rate: Birmingham among every council348 areas from 59.7% to 91.4%. The middle area is 76.3%. Birmingham is 66.8%.