OverviewDemographicsEarningsIndustryHousing

West Berkshire

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

West Berkshire supports 103,740 workplace jobs with median earnings 16% above the England average.

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Population

165,112

↑ 7.3%

England: 58,620,101

Workplace Jobs

103,740

Median Annual Earnings

£38,513

44th of 348

England: £33,080

Median House Price

£320,748

↑ 1.8%44th of 348

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

GVA per Job

£66,789

35th 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 165,112. Population has grown by 7.3% over five years, significantly below the England rate of 11.4%.

Population

165,112

England: 58,620,101

Working-Age (16-64)

61.0%

England: 62.9%

Under 16

18.7%

Over 65

20.3%

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

Earnings & Income

Gross annual earnings distribution, 2025.

Median annual earnings of £38,513 are significantly above the England median of £33,080.

Median Annual

£38,513

England: £33,080

10th Percentile

£11,865

90th Percentile

N/A

90/10 Ratio

N/A

Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap is 30.4% (male median £46,936, female median £32,652). This is above the England gap of 28.2%.

Gender Pay Gap

30.4%

England: 28.2%

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

Industry Structure

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

The most specialised sectors are Information & communication (LQ 2.57) and Manufacturing (LQ 1.87). Human health & social work shows the strongest local competitive advantage. Information & communication underperforms its national sectoral trend.

Largest Sector

Wholesale & retail trade

Most Specialised

Information & communication

England: LQ 2.57

Fastest Growing

Human health & social work

Specialised Sectors

2

England: LQ > 1.25

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

Housing & Property Market

Estimated house prices for West Berkshire vs England, 2015-2025.

The median house price of £320,748 is above 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

£320,748

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 West Berkshire to England and Great Britain averages.

West Berkshire's median earnings of £38,513 are 17% significantly above the England average of £32,909. House prices are 17% significantly above the England median. The claimant rate of 2.4% is lower than the GB average of 3.5%.

Median earnings

£38,513

England: £32,909(17% above)
GB: £32,401(19% above)

Median house price

£320,748

England: £274,076(17% above)
GB: £269,841(19% above)

Claimant rate

2.4%

England: 3.6%(1.2pp lower)
GB: 3.5%(1.1pp lower)

GVA per job

£66,789

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

Working-age population

61.0%

England: 62.1%(1.1pp lower)
GB: 61.9%(0.9pp lower)

Population change (5yr)

7.3%

England: 11.5%(4.2pp lower)
GB: 10.3%(3pp lower)

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