Four in ten people in the North West are 'economically inactive', says report

New findings reveal that human health and social work is the most common industry for North West residents to work in. 

Income protection experts Eleos have analysed data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2021 Census, to reveal the proportion of the population that are in work, and which are the most common industries to work in. 

According to the data, approximately 3,405,148 North West residents are economically active (excluding full-time students), with 53.7 per cent in employment and 2.8 per cent looking for work. Those that are full-time students and also economically active make up just 2.4 per cent of the population, with 103,762 of these in a job.

On the other hand, 2,478,388 (41.1 per cent) are economically inactive, the most common reason for which is retirement. Those who are retired account for 22.2 per cent of those who are economically inactive.   

In contrast, only 5.6 per cent are students who aren’t looking for work, while those considered long-term sick or disabled make-up 5.3 per cent, followed closely by those looking after their family and home with just 4.7 per cent.   

Ranking top as the industry with the most workforce is "human health and social work activities". A whopping 542,697 people are working in this industry, making up 16.2 per cent of the working population of the North West.  

Following closely in second is the wholesale and retail trade, including repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles sector, with 537,602 people working within it. In third is education with 324,407.