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Economy and work in Somerset

Unitary authority

The middle of the South West. 590,972 people in 3,452 square kilometres.

4 layers about economy and work for Somerset, 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

Somerset’s 339 neighbourhoods range from 5 to 105.

Median full-time pay

CouncilGreat Britain only
£36,279
ONS earnings survey · 2025

Full-time workers living in Somerset earned a median of £36,279 in 2025.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Median full-time pay: Somerset among every council348 areas from £29,805 to £57,396. The middle area is £38,490. Somerset is £36,279.

People claiming out-of-work benefits

Council
8,725
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Somerset, 8,725 people were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

Open in mapSource and method
People claiming out-of-work benefits: Somerset among every council361 areas from 20 to 77,930. The middle area is 2,690. Somerset is 8,725.

Claimant rate

Council
2.6%
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Somerset, 2.6% 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 South West
4% lower2.7%
Against the UK
33% lower3.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Claimant rate: Somerset among every council361 areas from 1.1% to 10.1%. The middle area is 3.2%. Somerset is 2.6%.

Employment rate

CouncilGreat Britain only
78.3%
ONS population survey · Mar 2026

78.3% of people aged 16 to 64 in Somerset were in work in the year to March 2026.

Somerset is joint 129th highest of 348 for employment rate.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Employment rate: Somerset among every council348 areas from 59.7% to 91.4%. The middle area is 76.3%. Somerset is 78.3%.