Work
Far more Glaswegians are in work than in 2004
of working-age Glaswegians in work in 2023 — up from 62.7% in 2004
What this means
Far more people in Glasgow have a job now than 20 years ago. That part is good news.
But for many families, a job is no longer a way out of poverty.
Share of working-age people in a job
Ages 16–64 · 2004 – 2025 · ONS Annual Population Survey
See the numbers behind this chart
| Calendar year | Glasgow | Scotland |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 62.7% | 72.6% |
| 2005 | 64.1% | 73.0% |
| 2006 | 62.7% | 73.7% |
| 2007 | 64.6% | 73.9% |
| 2008 | 64.8% | 73.6% |
| 2009 | 61.8% | 72.0% |
| 2010 | 61.4% | 71.0% |
| 2011 | 63.0% | 70.5% |
| 2012 | 58.6% | 70.5% |
| 2013 | 62.5% | 70.8% |
| 2014 | 64.2% | 72.6% |
| 2015 | 66.8% | 73.1% |
| 2016 | 67.4% | 73.0% |
| 2017 | 65.9% | 74.2% |
| 2018 | 64.3% | 74.1% |
| 2019 | 67.3% | 74.8% |
| 2020 | 69.8% | 73.4% |
| 2021 | 69.7% | 73.2% |
| 2022 | 72.1% | 74.4% |
| 2023 | 71.2% | 74.8% |
| 2024 | 65.6% | 74.2% |
| 2025 | 67.4% | 74.7% |
Embed this chart on your site
<iframe src="https://scotlandcounted.org.uk/embed/work" width="100%" height="520" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Share of working-age people in a job"></iframe>Free for any use. The chart stays live as the data updates, and links back here so your readers can check the sources.
The technical detail
The Annual Population Survey samples households rather than counting everyone. After 2023 response rates fell so far that the ONS downgraded the estimates and flagged them as unreliable for local areas.
Rates here are calculated as people aged 16–64 in employment divided by the resident population aged 16–64, both taken from the same survey.
Where this comes from
- Annual Population Survey, table T01 — Office for National Statistics, via NOMIS
Employment rates for Glasgow and Scotland, 2004–2025. Rates calculated as people aged 16–64 in employment divided by the resident population aged 16–64, both from the same survey.
Every number here is checkable
Open the data table above, or download the whole dataset. If you find an error, I will correct it and say so publicly.
One simple next step