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Economy and work in Manchester

Metropolitan borough

The south east of the North West. 588,256 people in 116 square kilometres.

4 layers about economy and work for Manchester, 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

Manchester’s 295 neighbourhoods range from 10 to 240.

Median full-time pay

CouncilGreat Britain only
£36,278
ONS earnings survey · 2025

Full-time workers living in Manchester earned a median of £36,278 in 2025.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Median full-time pay: Manchester among every council348 areas from £29,805 to £57,396. The middle area is £38,490. Manchester is £36,278.

People claiming out-of-work benefits

Council
25,185
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Manchester, 25,185 people were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

Open in mapSource and method
People claiming out-of-work benefits: Manchester among every council361 areas from 20 to 77,930. The middle area is 2,690. Manchester is 25,185.

Claimant rate

Council
6.0%
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Manchester, 6.0% 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 North West
43% higher4.2%
Against the UK
1.5 times3.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Claimant rate: Manchester among every council361 areas from 1.1% to 10.1%. The middle area is 3.2%. Manchester is 6.0%.

Employment rate

CouncilGreat Britain only
74.9%
ONS population survey · Mar 2026

74.9% of people aged 16 to 64 in Manchester were in work in the year to March 2026.

Manchester is joint 137th lowest of 348 for employment rate.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Employment rate: Manchester among every council348 areas from 59.7% to 91.4%. The middle area is 76.3%. Manchester is 74.9%.