OverviewDemographicsEarningsIndustryHousing

Sheffield

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

Sheffield supports 268,650 workplace jobs with median earnings broadly in line with the England average. Productivity (GVA per job) is ranked 264th of 391 local authorities.

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Population

582,493

↑ 7.0%

England: 58,620,101

Workplace Jobs

268,650

Median Annual Earnings

£31,816

193rd of 348

England: £33,080

Median House Price

£264,973

↑ 1.8%193rd of 348

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

GVA per Job

£58,496

264th 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 582,493. Population has grown by 7.0% over five years, significantly below the England rate of 11.4%.

Population

582,493

England: 58,620,101

Working-Age (16-64)

65.5%

England: 62.9%

Under 16

17.7%

Over 65

16.8%

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

Earnings & Income

Gross annual earnings distribution, 2025.

Median annual earnings of £31,816 are in line with the England median of £33,080. The 90/10 earnings ratio is 5.1x (England: 6.2x), indicating relatively high wage inequality.

Median Annual

£31,816

England: £33,080

10th Percentile

£12,538

90th Percentile

£63,586

90/10 Ratio

5.1x

Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap is 22.1% (male median £35,583, female median £27,711). This is significantly below the England gap of 28.2%.

Gender Pay Gap

22.1%

England: 28.2%

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

Industry Structure

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

The most specialised sectors are Public administration & defence (LQ 1.65) and Education (LQ 1.39). Wholesale & retail trade shows the strongest local competitive advantage. Administrative & support services underperforms its national sectoral trend.

Largest Sector

Human health & social work

Most Specialised

Public administration & defence

England: LQ 1.65

Fastest Growing

Wholesale & retail trade

Specialised Sectors

2

England: LQ > 1.25

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

Housing & Property Market

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

The median house price of £264,973 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

£264,973

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 Sheffield to England and Great Britain averages.

Sheffield's median earnings of £31,816 are in line with the England average. The claimant rate of 4.4% is higher than the GB average of 3.5%.

Median earnings

£31,816

England: £32,909(3% below)
GB: £32,401(2% below)

Median house price

£264,973

England: £274,076(3% below)
GB: £269,841(2% below)

Claimant rate

4.4%

England: 3.6%(0.8pp higher)
GB: 3.5%(0.9pp higher)

GVA per job

£58,496

England: £61,178(4% below)
GB: £61,125(4% below)

Working-age population

65.5%

England: 62.1%(3.4pp higher)
GB: 61.9%(3.6pp higher)

Population change (5yr)

7.0%

England: 11.5%(4.5pp lower)
GB: 10.3%(3.3pp lower)

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