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Economy and work in Portsmouth

Unitary authority

The south west of the South East. 211,475 people in 40 square kilometres.

4 layers about economy and work for Portsmouth, 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

Portsmouth’s 125 neighbourhoods range from 10 to 220.

Median full-time pay

CouncilGreat Britain only
£36,022
ONS earnings survey · 2025

Full-time workers living in Portsmouth earned a median of £36,022 in 2025.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Median full-time pay: Portsmouth among every council348 areas from £29,805 to £57,396. The middle area is £38,490. Portsmouth is £36,022.

People claiming out-of-work benefits

Council
6,455
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Portsmouth, 6,455 people were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

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People claiming out-of-work benefits: Portsmouth among every council361 areas from 20 to 77,930. The middle area is 2,690. Portsmouth is 6,455.

Claimant rate

Council
4.5%
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Portsmouth, 4.5% 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 East
45% higher3.1%
Against the UK
15% higher3.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Claimant rate: Portsmouth among every council361 areas from 1.1% to 10.1%. The middle area is 3.2%. Portsmouth is 4.5%.

Employment rate

CouncilGreat Britain only
77.8%
ONS population survey · Mar 2026

77.8% of people aged 16 to 64 in Portsmouth were in work in the year to March 2026.

Portsmouth is 144th highest of 348 for employment rate.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Employment rate: Portsmouth among every council348 areas from 59.7% to 91.4%. The middle area is 76.3%. Portsmouth is 77.8%.