Published: February 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.
|
2013 Employment (Jobs) |
% Change 2009 - 2013 |
% Annual change 2012-2013 |
Somerset |
219,300 |
-3.3 |
2.8 |
Mendip |
44,800 |
1.6 |
4.4 |
Sedgemoor |
41,700 |
-2.3 |
0.0 |
South Somerset |
66,100 |
-6.8 |
3.3 |
Taunton Deane |
54,000 |
-4.9 |
2.4 |
West Somerset |
12,600 |
3.3 |
5.5 |
Heart of the South West LEP |
691,700 |
-3.6 |
1.2 |
England |
24,552,400 |
2.0 |
1.4 |
Source: BRES 2013. NB. All figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
‘Total employment’ (jobs) in Somerset increased by 2.8% between 2012 and 2013, compared to an increase of 1.4% at national level. The majority of the County’s jobs are located in South Somerset (66,100), whilst only 6% are to be found in West Somerset (12,600).
Source: BRES 2013
Somerset’s largest sector in employment terms is health (16.3%), followed by manufacturing (13.1%). The smallest sectors are agriculture, forestry and fishing (0.2%), and finance and insurance (1.3%).
The motor trade sector had the largest annual increase between 2012 and 2013 (17.7%). Employment in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector fell by 25.5% over the same period.
Source: BRES 2013
Somerset has a higher proportion of part-time workers than the national level (37% compared to 32%)’ Levels of part-time working have remained largely consistent since 2009.
Area |
Current economic Activity rate(% residents aged 16 - 64) |
Annual Change (Sept 2013-Sept 2014) |
Economic Activity Rate:% males aged 16-64 |
Economic Activity rate: % Females aged 16-64 |
Somerset |
80.1 |
-1.2 |
87.1 |
73.3 |
Mendip |
74.5 |
-6.2 |
84.5 |
64.3 |
Sedgemoor |
80.7 |
-1.7 |
87.5 |
73.9 |
South Somerset |
83.5 |
2.3 |
85.9 |
81.2 |
Taunton Deane |
83.4 |
0.6 |
90.3 |
77 |
West Somerset |
67.4 |
-7.7 |
88.8 |
47.1 |
Heart of the South West LEP |
79.2 |
-0.4 |
83.7 |
74.8 |
UK |
77.4 |
0.2 |
83 |
71.8 |
Source: Annual Population Survey, NOMIS 2014
80.1% of Somerset’s residents aged 16-64 are economically active, compared to 77.4% nationally. Within the County, South Somerset has the highest economic activity rate (83.5%). Mendip, Sedgemoor and West Somerset have seen decreases in economic activity over the last year. Males have a consistently higher economic activity rate than females across Somerset, the LEP and the UK.
Area |
Current Employment Rate, aged 16-64 (%) |
Annual Change (Sept 2013 - Sept 2014) |
Somerset |
76.2 |
-0.6 |
Mendip |
71.2 |
-5.8 |
Sedgemoor |
74.9 |
-0.6 |
South Somerset |
80.1 |
3.8 |
Taunton Deane |
79.7 |
-0.4 |
West Somerset |
65.9 |
-5.8 |
Heart of the South West LEP |
75.1 |
0.5 |
UK |
72.3 |
1.2 |
Source: Annual Population Survey, NOMIS 2014
Somerset’s employment rate is higher than the national level (76.2% compared to 72.3%). South Somerset has the highest employment rate of all the districts and has seen the greatest increase over the last year (+3.8%)
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In 2014 14.9% of Somerset households were estimated to be in fuel poverty. - Fuel poverty