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Economy and work in Wakefield

Metropolitan borough

Central Yorkshire and The Humber. 369,450 people in 339 square kilometres.

4 layers about economy and work for Wakefield, 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

Wakefield’s 215 neighbourhoods range from 5 to 200.

Median full-time pay

CouncilGreat Britain only
£34,400
ONS earnings survey · 2025

Full-time workers living in Wakefield earned a median of £34,400 in 2025.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Median full-time pay: Wakefield among every council348 areas from £29,805 to £57,396. The middle area is £38,490. Wakefield is £34,400.

People claiming out-of-work benefits

Council
8,745
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Wakefield, 8,745 people were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

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People claiming out-of-work benefits: Wakefield among every council361 areas from 20 to 77,930. The middle area is 2,690. Wakefield is 8,745.

Claimant rate

Council
3.8%
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Wakefield, 3.8% 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
7% lower4.1%
Against the UK
3% lower3.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Claimant rate: Wakefield among every council361 areas from 1.1% to 10.1%. The middle area is 3.2%. Wakefield is 3.8%.

Employment rate

CouncilGreat Britain only
75.4%
ONS population survey · Mar 2026

75.4% of people aged 16 to 64 in Wakefield were in work in the year to March 2026.

Wakefield is 147th lowest of 348 for employment rate.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Employment rate: Wakefield among every council348 areas from 59.7% to 91.4%. The middle area is 76.3%. Wakefield is 75.4%.