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Economy and work in Edinburgh

Council area

South east Scotland. 531,370 people in 263 square kilometres.

4 layers about economy and work for Edinburgh, 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

Edinburgh’s 653 neighbourhoods range from 0 to 160.

Median full-time pay

CouncilGreat Britain only
£43,169
ONS earnings survey · 2025

Full-time workers living in Edinburgh earned a median of £43,169 in 2025.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Median full-time pay: Edinburgh among every council348 areas from £29,805 to £57,396. The middle area is £38,490. Edinburgh is £43,169.

People claiming out-of-work benefits

Council
10,370
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Edinburgh, 10,370 people were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

Open in mapSource and method
People claiming out-of-work benefits: Edinburgh among every council361 areas from 20 to 77,930. The middle area is 2,690. Edinburgh is 10,370.

Claimant rate

Council
2.8%
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Edinburgh, 2.8% 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 Scotland
13% lower3.2%
Against the UK
28% lower3.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Claimant rate: Edinburgh among every council361 areas from 1.1% to 10.1%. The middle area is 3.2%. Edinburgh is 2.8%.

Employment rate

CouncilGreat Britain only
80.7%
ONS population survey · Mar 2026

80.7% of people aged 16 to 64 in Edinburgh were in work in the year to March 2026.

Edinburgh is joint 63rd highest of 348 for employment rate.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Employment rate: Edinburgh among every council348 areas from 59.7% to 91.4%. The middle area is 76.3%. Edinburgh is 80.7%.