Compare

Economy and work in Orkney Islands

Council area

North Scotland. 21,920 people in 1,015 square kilometres, the 5th most sparsely populated council in the UK.

4 layers about economy and work for Orkney Islands, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.

Open in map

Claimants by neighbourhood

Claimant count (Nomis) · August 2026

Under 1070 or more

Orkney Islands’s 32 neighbourhoods range from 0 to 20.

Median full-time pay

CouncilGreat Britain only
£43,430
ONS earnings survey · 2025

Full-time workers living in Orkney Islands earned a median of £43,430 in 2025.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Median full-time pay: Orkney Islands among every council348 areas from £29,805 to £57,396. The middle area is £38,490. Orkney Islands is £43,430.

People claiming out-of-work benefits

Council
210
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Orkney Islands, 210 people were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

Open in mapSource and method
People claiming out-of-work benefits: Orkney Islands among every council361 areas from 20 to 77,930. The middle area is 2,690. Orkney Islands is 210.

Claimant rate

Council
1.6%
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Orkney Islands, 1.6% 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 Scotland
50% lower3.2%
Against the UK
59% lower3.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Claimant rate: Orkney Islands among every council361 areas from 1.1% to 10.1%. The middle area is 3.2%. Orkney Islands is 1.6%.

Employment rate

CouncilGreat Britain only
91.4%
ONS population survey · Mar 2026

91.4% of people aged 16 to 64 in Orkney Islands were in work in the year to March 2026.

Orkney Islands is highest of 348 for employment rate.

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