West Cumbria Opportunities & Challenges 2025 26 27 EMPLOYMENT RATE In the year ending December 2024, an estimated 77.3% of Cumbria’s working age population (aged 16- 64) was in employment, higher than the national average of 75.5%.11 This rate in Cumberland is at 76.9%.12 Employment rate (age 16-64) PAYROLLED EMPLOYMENT In April 2025, there were an estimated 226,403 payrolled employees across Cumbria representing an increase of 91 from the previous month.13 This means there are 1,575 more residents in payrolled employment across Cumbria than in 2024. West Cumbria itself experienced a 0.9% growth over the previous year, with 105,345 payrolled employees as of April 2025.14 MEDIAN MONTHLY PAY Median monthly pay (seasonally adjusted) for employees in Cumbria was £2,398 in April 2025 which is 95% of the UK average. In West Cumbria, earnings stood just above the UK average at 101%, or £2,557, although this figure potentially reflects the higher number of well paid, skilled jobs available at Sellafield Ltd, the largest employer in West Cumbria.15 Median monthly pay or payrolled employees ECONOMIC INACTIVITY Across Cumbria, the economic inactivity rate (those aged 16-64 who are not working or actively looking for work) was estimated to be 21.1%% (or 60,700 residents) in the year to December 2024, with inactivity rates in Cumberland standing at 20.8%.16 Economic Inactivity Rate (16-64 years) UNEMPLOYMENT The claimant rate17 recorded in April 2025 stood at 2.4% in Copeland and 2.6% in Allerdale, with both rates lower than the national average of 4.1%. The two highest claimant rates in April 2025 were both in Workington: Moss Bay and Moorclose (225 people or 5.5%) and St Michael’s (145 people or 4%), followed by Harrington (135 people or 3.3%) and Egremont (125 people or 3.6%). The three lowest rates of unemployment were in Thursby (0.5%), Bothel & Wharrels (1.3%) and Millom Without (1.3%) wards.18 There are 9,799 (17.1%) people in Allerdale and 6,821 (16.6%) people in Copeland claiming Universal Credit.19 Claimant rates for 18–24, 25– 34 and 35-44 year olds are above the national averages for the age groups in March 2025:20 • 18 – 24 year olds: Great Britian 13.6%, Allerdale 15%, Copeland, 15.6%. • 25 – 34 year olds: Great Britian 20%, Allerdale 22.5%, Copeland 21.4%. • 35 – 44 year olds: Great Britian 25.4%, Allerdale 27.1%, Copeland 26.9%. Universal Credit Claimant Count and Rate by Age21 Aged 18-24 Aged 25-34 Aged 35-44 Aged 45-54 Aged 55+ Total No Rate No Rate No Rate No Rate No Rate No Rate Cumberland 750 4.3% 1,090 3.4% 1,040 3.2% 590 1.7% 690 1.6% 4,160 2.5% Allerdale 295 4.7% 360 3.5% 365 3.6% 215 1.5% 255 1.7% 1,490 2.6% Carlisle 230 3.1% 475 3.9% 465 3.7% 235 1.6% 265 1.7% 1,675 2.6% Copeland 225 5.1% 255 3.3% 210 2.9% 135 1.4% 170 1.6% 1,000 2.4% Most Universal Credit claimants access the benefit for more than 12 months. In Cumbria, three quarters of Universal Credit claimants (32,825 people) had been claiming for over 12 months, an annual increase of 3,716 (12.8%).22 From November 2023 to November 2024, the number of households on Universal Credit rose in both Allerdale (+9.1%) and Copeland (+9.9%). It is also concerning that the numbers of children who are living in households claiming Universal Credit has risen from 25,909 in Nov 22 to 33,059 in Nov 24 – a rise of 27.6% in two years across Cumbria. For Allerdale, 7,205 children live in Universal Credit households, whilst in Copeland, 4,870 children live in Universal Credit Households, representing a rise of 15.9% and 20.7% respectively between November 2023 and November 2024.23
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