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Economy and work in Barnsley

Metropolitan borough

South west Yorkshire and The Humber. 252,784 people in 329 square kilometres.

4 layers about economy and work for Barnsley, 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

Barnsley’s 148 neighbourhoods range from 5 to 130.

Median full-time pay

CouncilGreat Britain only
£36,652
ONS earnings survey · 2025

Full-time workers living in Barnsley earned a median of £36,652 in 2025.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Median full-time pay: Barnsley among every council348 areas from £29,805 to £57,396. The middle area is £38,490. Barnsley is £36,652.

People claiming out-of-work benefits

Council
5,125
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Barnsley, 5,125 people were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

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People claiming out-of-work benefits: Barnsley among every council361 areas from 20 to 77,930. The middle area is 2,690. Barnsley is 5,125.

Claimant rate

Council
3.3%
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Barnsley, 3.3% 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 Yorkshire and The Humber
20% lower4.1%
Against the UK
15% lower3.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Claimant rate: Barnsley among every council361 areas from 1.1% to 10.1%. The middle area is 3.2%. Barnsley is 3.3%.

Employment rate

CouncilGreat Britain only
72.3%
ONS population survey · Mar 2026

72.3% of people aged 16 to 64 in Barnsley were in work in the year to March 2026.

Barnsley is joint 76th lowest of 348 for employment rate.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Employment rate: Barnsley among every council348 areas from 59.7% to 91.4%. The middle area is 76.3%. Barnsley is 72.3%.