OverviewDemographicsEarningsIndustryHousing

Manchester

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

Manchester supports 450,975 workplace jobs with median earnings 9% below the England average. Productivity (GVA per job) is ranked 25th of 391 local authorities.

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Population

589,670

↑ 19.7%

England: 58,620,101

Workplace Jobs

450,975

Median Annual Earnings

£30,067

264th of 348

England: £33,080

Median House Price

£250,407

↑ 1.8%264th of 348

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

GVA per Job

£68,264

25th 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 589,670. Population has grown by 19.7% over five years, significantly above the England rate of 11.4%. Working-age population (70.8%) is above the England average.

Population

589,670

England: 58,620,101

Working-Age (16-64)

70.8%

England: 62.9%

Under 16

19.8%

Over 65

9.3%

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

Earnings & Income

Gross annual earnings distribution, 2025.

Median annual earnings of £30,067 are below the England median of £33,080. The 90/10 earnings ratio is 6.6x (England: 6.2x), indicating relatively high wage inequality.

Median Annual

£30,067

England: £33,080

10th Percentile

£9,453

90th Percentile

£62,628

90/10 Ratio

6.6x

Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap is 19.5% (male median £33,639, female median £27,065). This is significantly below the England gap of 28.2%.

Gender Pay Gap

19.5%

England: 28.2%

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

Industry Structure

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

The most specialised sectors are Real estate (LQ 1.72) and Financial & insurance (LQ 1.66). Financial & insurance shows the strongest local competitive advantage. Professional, scientific & technical underperforms its national sectoral trend.

Largest Sector

Professional, scientific & technical

Most Specialised

Real estate

England: LQ 1.72

Fastest Growing

Financial & insurance

Specialised Sectors

4

England: LQ > 1.25

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

Housing & Property Market

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

The median house price of £250,407 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

£250,407

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 Manchester to England and Great Britain averages.

Manchester's median earnings of £30,067 are 9% below the England average of £32,909. House prices are 9% below the England median. The claimant rate of 6.0% is higher than the GB average of 3.5%.

Median earnings

£30,067

England: £32,909(9% below)
GB: £32,401(7% below)

Median house price

£250,407

England: £274,076(9% below)
GB: £269,841(7% below)

Claimant rate

6.0%

England: 3.6%(2.4pp higher)
GB: 3.5%(2.5pp higher)

GVA per job

£68,264

England: £61,178(12% above)
GB: £61,125(12% above)

Working-age population

70.8%

England: 62.1%(8.7pp higher)
GB: 61.9%(8.9pp higher)

Population change (5yr)

19.7%

England: 11.5%(8.2pp higher)
GB: 10.3%(9.4pp higher)

Country averages computed from local authority-level data (England: 294 LAs, GB: 348 LAs). May differ slightly from official published national statistics.