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Economy and work in Leeds

Metropolitan borough

North west Yorkshire and The Humber. 840,550 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 552 square kilometres.

4 layers about economy and work for Leeds, 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

Leeds’s 488 neighbourhoods range from 0 to 325.

Median full-time pay

CouncilGreat Britain only
£36,716
ONS earnings survey · 2025

Full-time workers living in Leeds earned a median of £36,716 in 2025.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Median full-time pay: Leeds among every council348 areas from £29,805 to £57,396. The middle area is £38,490. Leeds is £36,716.

People claiming out-of-work benefits

Council
25,640
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Leeds, 25,640 people were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

Open in mapSource and method
People claiming out-of-work benefits: Leeds among every council361 areas from 20 to 77,930. The middle area is 2,690. Leeds is 25,640.

Claimant rate

Council
4.6%
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Leeds, 4.6% 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 Yorkshire and The Humber
12% higher4.1%
Against the UK
18% higher3.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Claimant rate: Leeds among every council361 areas from 1.1% to 10.1%. The middle area is 3.2%. Leeds is 4.6%.

Employment rate

CouncilGreat Britain only
75.8%
ONS population survey · Mar 2026

75.8% of people aged 16 to 64 in Leeds were in work in the year to March 2026.

Leeds is joint 161st lowest of 348 for employment rate.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Employment rate: Leeds among every council348 areas from 59.7% to 91.4%. The middle area is 76.3%. Leeds is 75.8%.