OverviewDemographicsEarningsIndustryHousing

Reading

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

Reading supports 120,500 workplace jobs with median earnings 7% above the England average.

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Population

182,907

↑ 18.5%

England: 58,620,101

Workplace Jobs

120,500

Median Annual Earnings

£35,454

92nd of 348

England: £33,080

Median House Price

£295,271

↑ 1.8%92nd of 348

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

GVA per Job

£66,443

37th 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 182,907. Population has grown by 18.5% over five years, significantly above the England rate of 11.4%. Working-age population (68.9%) is above the England average.

Population

182,907

England: 58,620,101

Working-Age (16-64)

68.9%

England: 62.9%

Under 16

18.9%

Over 65

12.2%

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

Earnings & Income

Gross annual earnings distribution, 2025.

Median annual earnings of £35,454 are above the England median of £33,080.

Median Annual

£35,454

England: £33,080

10th Percentile

£12,504

90th Percentile

N/A

90/10 Ratio

N/A

Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap is 30.3% (male median £40,691, female median £28,374). This is above the England gap of 28.2%.

Gender Pay Gap

30.3%

England: 28.2%

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

Industry Structure

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

The most specialised sectors are Information & communication (LQ 3.71) and Electricity, gas & air conditioning (LQ 3.44). Wholesale & retail trade shows the strongest local competitive advantage. Administrative & support services underperforms its national sectoral trend.

Largest Sector

Information & communication

Most Specialised

Information & communication

England: LQ 3.71

Fastest Growing

Wholesale & retail trade

Specialised Sectors

4

England: LQ > 1.25

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

Housing & Property Market

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

The median house price of £295,271 is in line with 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

£295,271

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 Reading to England and Great Britain averages.

Reading's median earnings of £35,454 are 8% above the England average of £32,909. House prices are 8% above the England median. The claimant rate of 4.5% is higher than the GB average of 3.5%.

Median earnings

£35,454

England: £32,909(8% above)
GB: £32,401(9% above)

Median house price

£295,271

England: £274,076(8% above)
GB: £269,841(9% above)

Claimant rate

4.5%

England: 3.6%(0.9pp higher)
GB: 3.5%(1pp higher)

GVA per job

£66,443

England: £61,178(9% above)
GB: £61,125(9% above)

Working-age population

68.9%

England: 62.1%(6.8pp higher)
GB: 61.9%(7pp higher)

Population change (5yr)

18.5%

England: 11.5%(7pp higher)
GB: 10.3%(8.2pp higher)

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