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Economy and work in Rotherham

Metropolitan borough

South Yorkshire and The Humber. 279,161 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 287 square kilometres.

4 layers about economy and work for Rotherham, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.

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Claimants by neighbourhood

Claimant count (Nomis) · August 2026

Under 1070 or more

Rotherham’s 170 neighbourhoods range from 5 to 260.

Median full-time pay

CouncilGreat Britain only
£34,713
ONS earnings survey · 2025

Full-time workers living in Rotherham earned a median of £34,713 in 2025.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Median full-time pay: Rotherham among every council348 areas from £29,805 to £57,396. The middle area is £38,490. Rotherham is £34,713.

People claiming out-of-work benefits

Council
6,175
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Rotherham, 6,175 people were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

Open in mapSource and method
People claiming out-of-work benefits: Rotherham among every council361 areas from 20 to 77,930. The middle area is 2,690. Rotherham is 6,175.

Claimant rate

Council
3.6%
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Rotherham, 3.6% of residents aged 16 to 64 were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

For the UK as a whole, the figure was 3.9%.

Against Yorkshire and The Humber
12% lower4.1%
Against the UK
8% lower3.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Claimant rate: Rotherham among every council361 areas from 1.1% to 10.1%. The middle area is 3.2%. Rotherham is 3.6%.

Employment rate

CouncilGreat Britain only
70.2%
ONS population survey · Mar 2026

70.2% of people aged 16 to 64 in Rotherham were in work in the year to March 2026.

Rotherham is joint 48th lowest of 348 for employment rate.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Employment rate: Rotherham among every council348 areas from 59.7% to 91.4%. The middle area is 76.3%. Rotherham is 70.2%.