Resident Population

Total population (2025)

	West Sussex (level)	South East (level)	Great Britain (level)
All people	921,240	9,691,844	67,555,493
Males	447,477	4,730,880	33,087,034
Females	473,763	4,960,964	34,468,459
Source: Population estimates - local authority based by single year of age

Population aged 16-64 (2025)

	West Sussex (level)	West Sussex (%)	South East (%)	Great Britain (%)
All people	544,983	59.2	61.7	62.9
Males	267,938	59.9	62.1	63.3
Females	277,045	58.5	61.4	62.6
Source: Population estimates - local authority based by single year of age Notes:   % is a proportion of total population

Labour Supply

Employment and unemployment (Apr 2025-Mar 2026)

	West Sussex (numbers)	West Sussex (%)	South East (%)	Great Britain (%)
All people
Economically active†	469,800	85.2	81.9	79.1
In employment†	463,600	84.2	78.9	75.5
Employees†	385,100	72.6	68.4	65.9
Self employed†	74,700	11.4	10.3	9.3
Unemployed§	6,200	1.3	3.5	4.5
Males
Economically active†	240,100	88.1	84.9	82.5
In employment†	237,300	87.4	81.8	78.5
Employees†	188,700	73.3	69.1	66.6
Self employed†	46,500	13.8	12.5	11.6
Unemployed§	#	#	3.5	4.7
Females
Economically active†	229,700	82.4	78.9	75.8
In employment†	226,300	81.1	76.1	72.5
Employees†	196,500	71.9	67.7	65.2
Self employed†	28,200	9.0	8.1	7.0
Unemployed§	#	#	3.5	4.3
Source: ONS annual population survey #   Sample size too small for reliable estimate (see definitions) †   -   numbers are for those aged 16 and over, % are for those aged 16-64 §   -   numbers and % are for those aged 16 and over. % is a proportion of economically active §   -   Due to small sample sizes involved in the calculation of the APS unemployment estimate, ONS recommends people use the model-based version, which makes use of both survey and administrative data.

Economic inactivity (Apr 2025-Mar 2026)

	West Sussex (level)	West Sussex (%)	South East (%)	Great Britain (%)
All people
Total	76,200	14.8	18.1	20.9
Student	15,200	20.0	27.7	26.1
looking after family/home	10,400	13.7	16.7	18.0
temporary sick	#	#	2.3	2.4
long-term sick	22,900	30.1	26.1	28.9
discouraged	!	!	#	0.4
retired	12,500	16.4	13.3	12.2
other	12,700	16.6	13.5	12.0
wants a job	12,900	16.9	23.8	21.3
does not want a job	63,300	83.1	76.2	78.7
Source: ONS annual population survey #   Sample size too small for reliable estimate (see definitions) !   Estimate is not available since sample size is disclosive (see definitions) Notes:   numbers are for those aged 16-64.   % is a proportion of those economically inactive, except total, which is a proportion of those aged 16-64

Workless Households (Jan-Dec 2025)

	West Sussex	South East	Great Britain
Number of Workless Households	25,300	302,900	3,009,200
Percentage of Households that are Workless	9.1	10.5	14.4
Number of children in Workless Households	#	141,100	1,487,800
Percentage of children who are in Households that are Workless	#	7.8	11.9
Source: ONS annual population survey - households by combined economic activity status #   Sample size too small for reliable estimate (see definitions) Notes:   Only includes those households that have at least one person aged 16 to 64.   Children refers to all children aged under 16.

Employment by occupation (Apr 2025-Mar 2026)

	West Sussex (numbers)	West Sussex (%)	South East (%)	Great Britain (%)
Soc 2020 major group 1-3	245,900	53.0	56.8	53.9
1 Managers, directors and senior officials	62,000	13.4	13.1	11.4
2 Professional occupations	102,400	22.1	27.9	27.4
3 Associate professional occupations	81,400	17.6	15.7	14.9
Soc 2020 major group 4-5	89,800	19.4	17.0	17.1
4 Administrative & secretarial occupations	47,800	10.3	8.8	9.0
5 Skilled trades occupations	42,000	9.1	8.2	8.1
Soc 2020 major group 6-7	70,000	15.1	13.5	14.3
6 Caring, leisure and Other Service occupations	43,900	9.5	8.0	8.7
7 Sales and customer service occs	26,100	5.6	5.5	5.6
Soc 2020 major group 8-9	58,000	12.5	12.6	14.6
8 Process plant & machine operatives	20,700	4.5	4.6	5.5
9 Elementary occupations	37,300	8.1	8.0	9.1
Source: ONS annual population survey Notes:   Numbers and % are for those of 16+   % is a proportion of all persons in employment

Qualifications (Jan 2025-Dec 2025)

	West Sussex (level)	West Sussex (%)	South East (%)	Great Britain (%)
RQF4 and above	229,000	45.0	49.5	48.6
RQF3 and above	350,900	68.9	71.0	69.0
RQF2 and above	448,900	88.1	88.6	87.0
RQF1 and above	465,800	91.4	91.2	89.3
Other qualifications	19,400	3.8	3.9	4.4
No qualifications	24,300	4.8	4.8	6.3
Source: ONS annual population survey Notes:   For an explanation of the qualification levels see the definitions section.   Numbers and % are for those of aged 16-64   % is a proportion of resident population of area aged 16-64

Earnings by place of residence (2025)

	West Sussex (pounds)	South East (pounds)	Great Britain (pounds)
Gross weekly pay
Full-time workers	770.1	815.2	766.6
Male full-time workers	814.8	867.5	818.7
Female full-time workers	715.6	729.2	710.8
Hourly pay - excluding overtime
Full-time workers	19.60	21.04	19.74
Male full-time workers	20.15	22.00	20.39
Female full-time workers	18.76	19.63	18.94
Source: ONS annual survey of hours and earnings - resident analysis Notes:   Median earnings in pounds for employees living in the area.

Out-Of-Work Benefits

Under Universal Credit a broader span of claimants are required to look for work than under Jobseeker's Allowance. As Universal Credit Full Service is rolled out in particular areas, the number of people recorded as being on the Claimant Count is therefore likely to rise.

Claimant count by sex - not seasonally adjusted (August 2026)

	West Sussex (numbers)	West Sussex (%)	South East (%)	Great Britain (%)
All people	16,795	3.1	3.1	3.9
Males	9,220	3.5	3.5	4.5
Females	7,575	2.8	2.7	3.4
Source: ONS Claimant count by sex and age Note:   % is the number of claimants as a proportion of resident population of area aged 16-64 and gender

Claimant count by age - not seasonally adjusted (August 2026)

	West Sussex (level)	West Sussex (%)	South East (%)	Great Britain (%)
Aged 16+	16,795	3.1	3.1	3.9
Aged 16 to 17	25	0.1	0.1	0.2
Aged 18 to 24	3,170	5.5	4.9	5.9
Aged 18 to 21	1,965	6.1	5.3	6.4
Aged 25 to 49	9,215	3.3	3.3	4.3
Aged 50+	4,385	2.4	2.5	3.0
Source: ONS Claimant count by sex and age Note:   % is number of claimants as a proportion of resident population of the same age

Labour Demand

Jobs density (2024)

	West Sussex (jobs)	West Sussex (density)	South East (density)	Great Britain (density)
Jobs density	463,000	0.85	0.85	0.85
Source: ONS jobs density Notes:   The density figures represent the ratio of total jobs to population aged 16-64.   Total jobs includes employees, self-employed, government-supported trainees and HM Forces

Employee jobs (2024)

	West Sussex (employee jobs)	West Sussex (%)	South East (%)	Great Britain (%)
Total employee jobs	385,000	-	-	-
Full-time	258,000	67.0	68.7	69.2
Part-time	127,000	33.0	31.3	30.8
Employee jobs by industry
B : Mining and quarrying	150	0.0	0.0	0.2
C : Manufacturing	27,000	7.0	5.8	7.3
D : Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply	1,250	0.3	0.4	0.4
E : Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities	4,000	1.0	0.9	0.7
F : Construction	18,000	4.7	5.5	5.0
G : Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	60,000	15.6	15.2	13.7
H : Transportation and storage	32,000	8.3	4.9	5.0
I : Accommodation and food service activities	35,000	9.1	7.8	7.8
J : Information and communication	14,000	3.6	5.6	4.5
K : Financial and insurance activities	10,000	2.6	2.5	3.4
L : Real estate activities	7,000	1.8	1.8	1.9
M : Professional, scientific and technical activities	28,000	7.3	9.3	9.3
N : Administrative and support service activities	34,000	8.8	8.3	8.6
O : Public administration and defence; compulsory social security	12,000	3.1	3.6	4.9
P : Education	32,000	8.3	9.8	8.6
Q : Human health and social work activities	52,000	13.5	13.7	14.2
R : Arts, entertainment and recreation	11,000	2.9	2.6	2.5
S : Other service activities	8,000	2.1	2.1	1.9
Source: ONS Business Register and Employment Survey : open access -   Data unavailable Notes:   % is a proportion of total employee jobs excluding farm-based agriculture   Employee jobs excludes self-employed, government-supported trainees and HM Forces   Data excludes farm-based agriculture

Earnings by place of work (2025)

	West Sussex (pounds)	South East (pounds)	Great Britain (pounds)
Gross weekly pay
Full-time workers	731.3	775.8	766.6
Male full-time workers	766.9	838.2	818.6
Female full-time workers	698.4	702.5	710.6
Hourly pay - excluding overtime
Full-time workers	18.67	19.96	19.74
Male full-time workers	18.82	20.97	20.39
Female full-time workers	18.35	18.67	18.94
Source: ONS annual survey of hours and earnings - workplace analysis Notes:   Median earnings in pounds for employees working in the area.

Businesses

UK Business Counts (2025)

	West Sussex (numbers)	West Sussex (%)	South East (numbers)	South East (%)
Enterprises
Micro (0 to 9)	32,990	89.5	362,905	89.6
Small (10 to 49)	3,175	8.6	34,030	8.4
Medium (50 to 249)	545	1.5	6,295	1.6
Large (250+)	135	0.4	1,680	0.4
Total	36,850	-	404,910	-
Local Units
Micro (0 to 9)	36,090	84.7	395,455	85.1
Small (10 to 49)	5,320	12.5	56,185	12.1
Medium (50 to 249)	1,030	2.4	11,565	2.5
Large (250+)	165	0.4	1,705	0.4
Total	42,600	-	464,910	-
Source: Inter Departmental Business Register (ONS) Note:   % is as a proportion of total (enterprises or local units)

Definitions and Explanations

Resident Population

The estimated population of an area includes all those usually resident in the area, whatever their nationality. HM Forces stationed outside the United Kingdom are excluded but foreign forces stationed here are included. Students are taken to be resident at their term-time address.

Labour Supply

Out-Of-Work Benefits

Claimant Count (Experimental Statistics)

The Claimant Count is the number of people claiming benefit principally for the reason of being unemployed. This is measured by combining the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) and National Insurance credits with the number of people receiving Universal Credit principally for the reason of being unemployed. Claimants declare that they are out of work, capable of, available for and actively seeking work during the week in which the claim is made.

The measure of the number of people receiving Universal Credit principally for the reason of being unemployed is still being developed by the Department for Work and Pensions. Consequently this component of the total Claimant Count does not yet correctly reflect the target population of unemployed claimants and is subject to revisions. For this reason the Claimant Count is currently designated as Experimental Statistics.

The Claimant Count is mostly derived from DWP administrative systems. For various reasons, e.g. a claimant's National Insurance number is not known, a small number of claims have to be dealt with manually. These clerical claims do not have as much detail as the computerised claims and therefore, whilst part of the claimant count by sex table, cannot be included the age breakdown.

Rates by age

Unemployment benefits normally only apply to people aged 18 years and over. They can only be claimed by 16 and 17 year olds in exceptional circumstances. Consequently the counts for this age group are typically very low.

Labour Demand

Labour demand includes jobs available within the area.

Jobs Density

The level of jobs per resident aged 16-64. For example, a job density of 1.0 would mean that there is one job for every resident aged 16-64.

The total number of jobs is a workplace-based measure and comprises employee jobs, self-employed, government-supported trainees and HM Forces. The number of residents aged 16-64 figures used to calculate jobs densities are based on the relevant mid-year population estimates.

Employee Jobs

The number of jobs held by employees. Employee jobs excludes self-employed, government-supported trainees and HM Forces, so this count will be smaller than the total jobs figure shown in the Jobs density table. The information comes from the Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) - an employer survey conducted in September of each year. The BRES records a job at the location of an employee's workplace (rather than at the location of the business's main office).

Full-time and part-time:

In the BRES, part-time employees are those working for 30 or fewer hours per week.

Note

All figures exclude farm-based agriculture

Earnings by Place of Work

The figures show the median earnings in pounds for employees working in the area who are on adults rates of pay and whose pay was not affected by absence. Figures for earnings come from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). The ASHE is based on a 1 per cent sample of employees, information on whose earnings and hours is obtained from employers. The survey does not cover self-employed. In 2004 information related to the pay period which included 21 April.

The earnings information collected relates to gross pay before tax, national insurance or other deductions, and excludes payments in kind. It is restricted to earnings relating to the survey pay period and so excludes payments of arrears from another period made during the survey period; any payments due as a result of a pay settlement but not yet paid at the time of the survey will also be excluded.

UK Business Counts

The data contained in the table are compiled from an extract taken from the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) recording the position of units as at March of the reference year. The IDBR contains information on VAT traders and PAYE employers in a statistical register which provides the basis for the Office for National Statistics to conduct surveys of businesses.

The table presents analysis of businesses at both Enterprise and Local Unit level. An Enterprise is the smallest combination of legal units (generally based on VAT and/or PAYE records) which has a certain degree of autonomy within an Enterprise Group. An individual site (for example a factory or shop) in an enterprise is called a local unit.

The employment information on the IDBR is drawn mainly from the Business Register Employment Survey (BRES). Because this is based on a sample of enterprises, estimates from previous returns and from other ONS surveys have also been used. For the smallest units, either PAYE jobs or employment imputed from VAT turnover is used.

Estimates in the table are rounded to prevent disclosure.

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Source: Office for National Statistics

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