Bradford Metropolitan District Council | Economic Information Service

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Overview

The District of Bradford is the second largest metropolitan district in the West Yorkshire sub-region, after Leeds, and the 4th largest in the country. With a population of 477,800, it accounts for 22% of the population in the sub-region and 9.4% of the population in the region of Yorkshire & Humber. Over 2 million economically active people live within 60 minutes drive time of Bradford.
Bradford has the region's third largest economy and accounts for 9% of all employment in the region and 21% in the sub region. The district holds 9% of the regional business stock.
The Annual Business Inquiry 2003 showed that there were 14,428 business units within Bradford and District employing 195,593 people.
The majority of firms within the district are small with 82% employing ten or fewer employees and 99% of all business units employ less than 200 persons. The larger business units of over 200 employees make up 1% of the total workplaces but account for more than 34% of the employment within the district.
Bradford District has enjoyed economic growth but is under performing when compared to national and sub-regional growth. In 2002 GVA per capita at current basic prices in the Bradford District stood at £12,832. This was lower than the UK figure of £15,614, and the regional figure of £13,508. Leeds GVA was £18,305.
Employment rates in Bradford had been falling, but the latest data available has shown a dramatic reversal of this downward trend with a relatively large increase in the District’s employment rate in the year 2003. It remains to be seen if this improvement marks the start of a longer-term trend.
Recent employment growth has been lower than regional and national averages. Large falls in traditional manufacturing industries have negated the impact of respectable service sector growth.
Average residence based earnings are lower in Bradford than the regional averages. There is a significant gap between the average wage paid by Bradford firms and the wage earned by residents of the District.
Whilst unemployment has fallen to historically low levels, employment rates are also falling due to increasing levels of inactivity. Bradford has one of the lowest employment rates in the region and is ranked the fifth most employment deprived local authority in England according to the 2004 Index of Multiple Deprivation.