Job Density

The jobs density of an area is the number of jobs per head of the resident population aged 16 to 64. It is used to show the supply of jobs to an area relative to its population size, with more jobs reflective of a growing economy. A job density of 1.00 equates to one job for every person of working age.

The charts above show job density figures. The first chart plots data for Somerset, the South West and the UK between 2013 and 2019. The second chart compares lower-tier local authority areas for 2019. Right click on either chart to select and view the underlying data.

About the data

In 2021 there were 0.82 jobs per person in Somerset, slightly lower job density than the Heart of the South West (0.87), and the UK (0.85). However, Somerset is slightly lower than the South West region (0.87).

Job density in Somerset increased steadily in the four years prior to 2019 from a low point of 0.83 in 2014. .

The highest job density estimate in Somerset was the area of Somerset West & Taunton (0.86) and lowest was Sedgemoor (0.72).

Source: ONS, NOMIS, Job Density, April 2023