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Economy and work in Forest of Dean

District

The north of the South West. 90,157 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 526 square kilometres.

4 layers about economy and work for Forest of Dean, 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

Forest of Dean’s 50 neighbourhoods range from 5 to 65.

Median full-time pay

CouncilGreat Britain only
£42,326
ONS earnings survey · 2025

Full-time workers living in Forest of Dean earned a median of £42,326 in 2025.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Median full-time pay: Forest of Dean among every council348 areas from £29,805 to £57,396. The middle area is £38,490. Forest of Dean is £42,326.

People claiming out-of-work benefits

Council
1,375
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Forest of Dean, 1,375 people were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

Open in mapSource and method
People claiming out-of-work benefits: Forest of Dean among every council361 areas from 20 to 77,930. The middle area is 2,690. Forest of Dean is 1,375.

Claimant rate

Council
2.6%
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Forest of Dean, 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: Forest of Dean among every council361 areas from 1.1% to 10.1%. The middle area is 3.2%. Forest of Dean is 2.6%.

Employment rate

CouncilGreat Britain only
73.5%
ONS population survey · Mar 2026

73.5% of people aged 16 to 64 in Forest of Dean were in work in the year to March 2026.

Forest of Dean is joint 104th lowest of 348 for employment rate.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Employment rate: Forest of Dean among every council348 areas from 59.7% to 91.4%. The middle area is 76.3%. Forest of Dean is 73.5%.