OverviewDemographicsEarningsIndustryHousing

Carmarthenshire

Economic profile. Data last updated 2026-03-28.

Carmarthenshire supports 70,535 workplace jobs with median earnings 7% below the England average. Productivity (GVA per job) is ranked 338th of 391 local authorities.

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Population

190,800

↑ 4.3%

England: 58,620,101

Workplace Jobs

70,535

Median Annual Earnings

£30,774

233rd of 348

England: £33,080

Median House Price

£256,295

↑ 1.8%233rd of 348

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

GVA per Job

£55,688

338th of 391

England: £63,763

Source: ONS, Nomis, HM Land Registry, 2024-2025·Last updated March 2026

Demographics & Population

Mid-year population estimates (2024) and Census 2021 age profile.

Mid-year population estimate of 190,800. Population has grown by 4.3% over five years, significantly below the England rate of 11.4%. Working-age population (58.2%) is below the England average.

Population

190,800

England: 58,620,101

Working-Age (16-64)

58.2%

England: 62.9%

Under 16

16.7%

Over 65

25.1%

Source: ONS Mid-Year Population Estimates, Census 2021, 2024·Last updated March 2026

Earnings & Income

Gross annual earnings distribution, 2025.

Median annual earnings of £30,774 are below the England median of £33,080.

Median Annual

£30,774

England: £33,080

10th Percentile

£10,653

90th Percentile

N/A

90/10 Ratio

N/A

Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap is 24.3% (male median £35,433, female median £26,811). This is below the England gap of 28.2%.

Gender Pay Gap

24.3%

England: 28.2%

Source: ASHE via Nomis, 2025·Last updated March 2026

Industry Structure

Location quotients and shift-share analysis for Carmarthenshire's economy.

The most specialised sectors are Agriculture, forestry & fishing (LQ 4.69) and Human health & social work (LQ 1.70). Human health & social work shows the strongest local competitive advantage. Transport & storage underperforms its national sectoral trend.

Largest Sector

Human health & social work

Most Specialised

Agriculture, forestry & fishing

England: LQ 4.69

Fastest Growing

Human health & social work

Specialised Sectors

4

England: LQ > 1.25

Source: BRES via Nomis, 2020-2024·Last updated March 2026

Housing & Property Market

Estimated house prices for Carmarthenshire vs England, 2015-2025.

The median house price of £256,295 is below the England median of £290,000. The price-to-earnings ratio is 8.3x. Prices have risen 1.8% over the past year.

Median Price

£256,295

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

12-Month Change

1.8%

Source: HM Land Registry, Census 2021, 2015-2025·Last updated March 2026

Benchmark to national figures

Comparing Carmarthenshire to Wales and Great Britain averages.

Carmarthenshire's median earnings of £30,774 are in line with the Wales average. The claimant rate of 2.9% is lower than the GB average of 3.5%.

Median earnings

£30,774

Wales: £30,754
GB: £32,401(5% below)

Median house price

£256,295

Wales: £256,129
GB: £269,841(5% below)

Claimant rate

2.9%

Wales: 3.4%(0.5pp lower)
GB: 3.5%(0.6pp lower)

GVA per job

£55,688

Wales: £60,032(7% below)
GB: £61,125(9% below)

Working-age population

58.2%

Wales: 60.2%(2pp lower)
GB: 61.9%(3.7pp lower)

Population change (5yr)

4.3%

Wales: 3.4%(0.9pp higher)
GB: 10.3%(6pp lower)

Country averages computed from local authority-level data (Wales: 22 LAs, GB: 348 LAs). May differ slightly from official published national statistics.