Published: March 2018
The largest occupation group in Somerset are professional roles (19.2%), compared to 20.3% at a national level. Skilled trades are the next strongest group with 13.2% West Somerset had the highest proportion employed within Managers, directors and senior official sector with 18%.
Somerset has a smaller proportion of people employed in the public sector than the Heart of the South West area; 20% compared to 22.1%. Within the County there is a particular concentration of public sector employment in South Somerset (24%)
Average earnings in Somerset consistently lag behind the UK level. However, Sedgemoor has the lowest with £26,031 median earnings. Taunton Deane was the only district in Somerset which had a fall in average earnings over the year.
NB: The median is the value below which 50% of employees’ earnings fall.
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Somerset in 2025 is ranked as 93 out of a total of 153 of Upper Tier English local authorities, up from 92 in 2019. Moving from rank 92 to 93 means the authority is relatively less deprived compared to others, but the difference is very minimal. (Indices of Deprivation 2025).