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Economy & jobs Statistics · Region

Employment rate in Wales

1995 – 2024 · 30 data points 11 of 12 · Regions of United Kingdom Updated 22 Oct 2026
Economy & jobs · Wales United Kingdom

Source: OECD Regional Database, 1995 – 2024

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Overview 5 figures People 13 figures Economy 11 figures Education 4 figures Climate 1 figure
Latest value · 2024 72.7% −1.4 pp since 2023
Regions of United Kingdom · 2024 11 of 12 Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2014 +3.2 pp
vs United Kingdom −2.5 pp United Kingdom: 75.2% · 2024
Employment rate, 1995 – 2024 percent · Wales · United Kingdom
+3.2 pp since 2014
Wales United Kingdom

Source: OECD Regional Database, 1995 – 2024

Compared with Employment rate · percent
Wales
72.7%
United Kingdom
75.2%

Source: OECD Regional Database

The series at a glance Wales · 1995 – 2024
Latest value 72.7% · 2024
First value 65.2% · 1995
Highest 74.1% · 2023
Lowest 65.2% · 1995
Data points 30

By year

All years · 1995 – 2024

YearWalesChange United Kingdom
2024 72.7% −1.4 pp 75.2%
2023 74.1% +0.8 pp 75.7%
2022 73.3% +0.3 pp 75.5%
2021 73.0% +0.3 pp 74.7%
2020 72.7% −0.5 pp 75.1%
2019 73.2% +0.1 pp 75.6%
2018 73.1% +0.7 pp 75.0%
2017 72.4% +1.2 pp 74.7%
2016 71.2% +0.9 pp 73.8%
2015 70.3% +0.8 pp 73.4%
2014 69.5% +0.6 pp 72.3%
2013 68.9% +1.6 pp 71.2%
2012 67.3% +0.5 pp 70.5%
2011 66.8% +0.3 pp 69.8%
2010 66.5% −0.2 pp 70.1%
2009 66.7% −2.0 pp 70.6%
2008 68.7% −0.5 pp 72.1%
2007 69.2% ±0.0 pp 72.4%
2006 69.2% ±0.0 pp 72.4%
2005 69.2% −0.1 pp 72.5%
2004 69.3% −1.1 pp 72.5%
2003 70.4% +2.7 pp 72.8%
2002 67.7% +1.1 pp 72.6%
2001 66.6% −0.7 pp 72.6%
2000 67.3% +0.7 pp 72.5%
1999 66.6% +0.7 pp 72.0%
1998 65.9% −0.3 pp 71.5%
1997 66.2% +0.3 pp 71.0%
1996 65.9% +0.7 pp 70.0%
1995 65.2% 69.6%

Source: OECD Regional Database, 1995 – 2024

Ranking · Regions of United Kingdom

2023 · Place 1 is the highest value.

Year: 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Highest first Lowest first A–Z
#TerritoryEmployment rate
4 East Midlands 75.5%
3 East of England 77.5%
7 Greater London 74.6%
13 North East England 72.8%
10 North West England 73.8%
11 Northern Ireland 73.6%
12 Outer London - West and North West 73.2%
6 Scotland 74.8%
1 South East England 79.3%
2 South West England 78.8%
9 Wales 74.1%
5 West Midlands 75.2%
8 Yorkshire and The Humber 74.2%

Source: OECD Regional Database, 2023

What it means

The share of working-age people who have a job.

How it is calculated

Employed people of working age (usually 20–64 or 15–64) divided by the population of the same age.