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Economy and work in Tower Hamlets

London borough

East London. 334,240 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 20 square kilometres, the most densely populated council in the UK.

4 layers about economy and work for Tower Hamlets, 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

Tower Hamlets’s 169 neighbourhoods range from 5 to 250.

Median full-time pay

CouncilGreat Britain only
£52,000
ONS earnings survey · 2025

Full-time workers living in Tower Hamlets earned a median of £52,000 in 2025.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Median full-time pay: Tower Hamlets among every council348 areas from £29,805 to £57,396. The middle area is £38,490. Tower Hamlets is £52,000.

People claiming out-of-work benefits

Council
17,130
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Tower Hamlets, 17,130 people were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

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People claiming out-of-work benefits: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 20 to 77,930. The middle area is 2,690. Tower Hamlets is 17,130.

Claimant rate

Council
6.7%
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Tower Hamlets, 6.7% 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 London
22% higher5.5%
Against the UK
1.7 times3.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Claimant rate: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 1.1% to 10.1%. The middle area is 3.2%. Tower Hamlets is 6.7%.

Employment rate

CouncilGreat Britain only
72.7%
ONS population survey · Mar 2026

72.7% of people aged 16 to 64 in Tower Hamlets were in work in the year to March 2026.

Tower Hamlets is joint 87th lowest of 348 for employment rate.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Employment rate: Tower Hamlets among every council348 areas from 59.7% to 91.4%. The middle area is 76.3%. Tower Hamlets is 72.7%.