Published: December 2015
The Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) is a rich dataset from which small area analyses can be derived at various levels. The survey collects employment information from businesses across the whole of the UK economy for each site that they operate.
‘Total employment’ (jobs) in Somerset increased by 1.5% between 2013 and 2014, compared to an increase of 2.7% at national level. The majority of the County’s jobs are located in South Somerset (67,000), whilst only 5% are to be found in West Somerset (12,100).
Total employment (2014)
|
2014 Employment (Jobs) |
% Change 2010 - 2014 |
% Annual change 2013-2014 |
Somerset |
222,600 |
0.6 |
1.5 |
Mendip |
45,200 |
2.4 |
1.0 |
Sedgemoor |
42,900 |
4.3 |
3.0 |
South Somerset |
67,000 |
-1.6 |
1.3 |
Taunton Deane |
55,500 |
-0.4 |
2.6 |
West Somerset |
12,100 |
-1.0 |
-4.4 |
Heart of the South West LEP |
709,300 |
1.2 |
2.6 |
England |
25,151,200 |
4.9 |
2.7 |
Source: BRES 2014. NB. All figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
Somerset’s largest sector in employment terms is health (16%), followed by manufacturing (13%). The smallest sectors are agriculture, forestry & fishing (0.3%), and finance & insurance (1.3%).
The wholesale sector had the largest annual increase between 2013 and 2014 (24.2%). Employment in Public administration & defence sector fell by 9.9% over the same period.
Source: BRES 2014
Somerset has a higher proportion of part-time workers than the national level (36% compared to 31%)’ Levels of part-time working have remained largely consistent since 2010.
Source: BRES 2014
Economic activity (June 2015)
Area |
Current economic Activity rate(% residents aged 16 - 64) |
Annual Change (June 2014- 2015) |
Economic Activity Rate:% males aged 16-64 |
Economic Activity rate: % Females aged 16-64 |
Somerset |
83.1 |
4 |
88.8 |
77.7 |
Mendip |
81.1 |
7.7 |
90.2 |
72.3 |
Sedgemoor |
80.1 |
-0.4 |
85.5 |
74.6 |
South Somerset |
82.9 |
0.9 |
85.7 |
80.2 |
Taunton Deane |
87.1 |
4.7 |
94.5 |
80.4 |
West Somerset |
88 |
21.6 |
91.8 |
84.5 |
Heart of the South West LEP |
80.6 |
1.7 |
84.9 |
76.5 |
UK |
77.4 |
0.3 |
83 |
71.9 |
Source: Annual Population Survey, NOMIS 2015
83.1% of Somerset’s residents aged 16-64 are economically active, compared to 77.4% nationally. Within the County, West Somerset has the highest economic activity rate (88%). Sedgemoor have seen decrease in economic activity over the last year. Males have a consistently higher economic activity rate than females across Somerset, the LEP and the UK.
Employment rate (June 2015)
Somerset’s employment rate is higher than the national level (79.3% compared to 72.9%). West Somerset has the highest employment rate of all the districts (83.4%). West Somerset saw the greatest increase over the last year (+21%).
Area |
Current Employment Rate, aged 16-64 (%) |
Annual Change (June 2014-15) |
Somerset |
79.3 |
4 |
Mendip |
79.1 |
9.4 |
Sedgemoor |
75 |
1.2 |
South Somerset |
79.4 |
0 |
Taunton Deane |
82.6 |
2.7 |
West Somerset |
83.4 |
21 |
Heart of the South West LEP |
77 |
3 |
UK |
72.9 |
1.2 |
Source: Annual Population Survey, NOMIS 2015
The proportion of Somerset households with no central heating decreased from 9.1% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011. - 2011 Census