Labour market opportunities for young people
Published:
18 December 2025
see all updates
Data on labour market opportunities for 16 to 29 year olds across the UK, measured by their occupation level and unemployment rate over time. This index shows which areas offer more or less favourable employment opportunities for young people.
Visualisation
Index of 'labour market opportunities for young people', by local authority (UK)
205 local authority areas in the UK are put into 7 categories based on their ‘index of labour market opportunities’ composite scores. The categories are not equally sized – the middle category is larger because most local authorities are very near the average. Areas with the highest scores have the most favourable labour market opportunities.
Data
| Region | 2018 to 2024 | 2012 to 2017 | 2006 to 2011 | 2000 to 2005 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Index of 'labour market opportunities for young people' ('Z-scores') | Group | Index of 'labour market opportunities for young people' ('Z-scores') | Group | Index of 'labour market opportunities for young people' ('Z-scores') | Group | Index of 'labour market opportunities for young people' ('Z-scores') | Group | |
| Aberdeen City | -0.10 | Middling | 0.86 | Upper Middling | 0.48 | Middling | 0.67 | Upper Middling |
| Aberdeenshire | -0.90 | Lower Middling | -0.01 | Middling | -0.24 | Middling | -0.88 | Lower Middling |
| Angus | -0.98 | Lower Middling | -0.46 | Middling | -1.34 | Unfavourable | -0.87 | Lower Middling |
| Argyll and Bute Islands | -1.19 | Unfavourable | -1.15 | Unfavourable | -0.26 | Middling | -0.74 | Lower Middling |
| Barking and Dagenham | 0.41 | Middling | -0.05 | Middling | 0.11 | Middling | 0.03 | Middling |
| Barnet | 0.31 | Middling | 1.08 | Favourable | 1.58 | Most Favourable | 1.40 | Favourable |
| Barnsley | -0.47 | Middling | -0.17 | Middling | -0.30 | Middling | -0.40 | Middling |
| Bath and North East Somerset | 0.13 | Middling | -0.29 | Middling | -0.61 | Lower Middling | 0.17 | Middling |
| Bedford | 0.78 | Upper Middling | 0.21 | Middling | 0.50 | Middling | 0.03 | Middling |
| Bexley | 0.84 | Upper Middling | 0.21 | Middling | 0.60 | Upper Middling | 0.79 | Upper Middling |
| Birmingham | -0.56 | Lower Middling | -0.90 | Lower Middling | -0.57 | Lower Middling | -0.29 | Middling |
| Blackburn with Darwen | -0.55 | Lower Middling | -0.55 | Lower Middling | -0.81 | Lower Middling | -0.67 | Lower Middling |
| Blackpool | -0.27 | Middling | -0.47 | Middling | -0.65 | Lower Middling | -0.65 | Lower Middling |
| Blaenau Gwent | -0.79 | Lower Middling | -1.34 | Unfavourable | -1.26 | Unfavourable | -1.16 | Unfavourable |
| Bolton | -0.62 | Lower Middling | -0.54 | Lower Middling | -0.21 | Middling | -0.21 | Middling |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | -0.16 | Middling | -0.21 | Middling | 0.50 | Upper Middling | 0.09 | Middling |
| Bracknell Forest | 1.32 | Favourable | 1.07 | Favourable | 1.24 | Favourable | 1.50 | Favourable |
| Bradford | -0.62 | Lower Middling | -0.77 | Lower Middling | -0.44 | Middling | -0.64 | Lower Middling |
| Brent | 0.24 | Middling | 0.46 | Middling | 0.60 | Upper Middling | 0.65 | Upper Middling |
| Bridgend | -0.97 | Lower Middling | -0.50 | Lower Middling | -0.64 | Lower Middling | -0.96 | Lower Middling |
| Brighton and Hove | -0.23 | Middling | 0.36 | Middling | 0.23 | Middling | 0.20 | Middling |
| Bristol, City of | 1.25 | Favourable | 1.31 | Favourable | 1.36 | Favourable | 0.80 | Upper Middling |
| Bromley | 1.15 | Favourable | 2.25 | Most Favourable | 1.94 | Most Favourable | 1.65 | Most Favourable |
| Buckinghamshire | 0.29 | Middling | 0.67 | Upper Middling | 0.32 | Middling | 0.56 | Upper Middling |
| Bury | 0.05 | Middling | 0.22 | Middling | 0.15 | Middling | 0.33 | Middling |
| Caerphilly | -0.81 | Lower Middling | -0.73 | Lower Middling | -0.30 | Middling | -0.95 | Lower Middling |
| Calderdale | -0.27 | Middling | -0.24 | Middling | -0.42 | Middling | -0.27 | Middling |
| Cambridgeshire CC | 0.01 | Middling | 0.76 | Upper Middling | 0.75 | Upper Middling | 0.74 | Upper Middling |
| Camden and City of London | 2.74 | Most Favourable | 1.69 | Most Favourable | 3.36 | Most Favourable | 2.18 | Most Favourable |
| Cardiff | 0.25 | Middling | -0.20 | Middling | 0.69 | Upper Middling | 0.57 | Upper Middling |
| Carmarthenshire | -0.87 | Lower Middling | -1.10 | Unfavourable | -1.39 | Unfavourable | -0.99 | Lower Middling |
| Central Bedfordshire | 0.73 | Upper Middling | 1.15 | Favourable | 0.35 | Middling | 0.57 | Upper Middling |
| Ceredigion | -0.65 | Lower Middling | -1.36 | Unfavourable | -1.45 | Unfavourable | -1.31 | Unfavourable |
| Cheshire East | -0.16 | Middling | -0.19 | Middling | -0.13 | Middling | 0.38 | Middling |
| Cheshire West and Chester | 0.05 | Middling | 0.15 | Middling | -0.43 | Middling | 0.36 | Middling |
| City of Edinburgh | 0.64 | Upper Middling | 1.16 | Favourable | 0.77 | Upper Middling | 0.96 | Upper Middling |
| Clackmannanshire | -0.74 | Lower Middling | -0.47 | Middling | -0.68 | Lower Middling | -0.58 | Lower Middling |
| Conwy | -0.47 | Middling | -1.37 | Unfavourable | -0.92 | Lower Middling | -0.96 | Lower Middling |
| Cornwall and Isles of Scilly | -1.06 | Unfavourable | -0.87 | Lower Middling | -0.92 | Lower Middling | -1.25 | Unfavourable |
| Coventry | -0.38 | Middling | -0.74 | Lower Middling | -0.52 | Lower Middling | -0.26 | Middling |
| Croydon | 0.61 | Upper Middling | 0.24 | Middling | 1.06 | Favourable | 1.03 | Favourable |
| Cumbria | -0.62 | Lower Middling | -0.34 | Middling | -0.58 | Lower Middling | -0.88 | Lower Middling |
| Darlington | -0.71 | Lower Middling | -0.36 | Middling | -0.65 | Lower Middling | -0.82 | Lower Middling |
| Denbighshire | -0.97 | Lower Middling | -1.08 | Unfavourable | -0.94 | Lower Middling | -0.75 | Lower Middling |
| Derby | -0.08 | Middling | 0.30 | Middling | 0.25 | Middling | 0.11 | Middling |
| Derbyshire | -0.11 | Middling | 0.02 | Middling | -0.30 | Middling | -0.67 | Lower Middling |
| Devon CC | -0.68 | Lower Middling | -0.73 | Lower Middling | -0.69 | Lower Middling | -0.49 | Middling |
| Doncaster | -0.78 | Lower Middling | -0.71 | Lower Middling | -0.40 | Middling | -0.61 | Lower Middling |
| Dorset | 0.30 | Middling | -0.20 | Middling | -0.31 | Middling | -0.57 | Lower Middling |
| Dudley | -0.31 | Middling | -0.66 | Lower Middling | 0.11 | Middling | -0.10 | Middling |
| Dumfries and Galloway | -0.94 | Lower Middling | -1.34 | Unfavourable | -1.34 | Unfavourable | -0.96 | Lower Middling |
| Dundee City | -1.07 | Unfavourable | -0.28 | Middling | -0.19 | Middling | -0.98 | Lower Middling |
| Durham | -1.11 | Unfavourable | -0.94 | Lower Middling | -0.54 | Lower Middling | -1.20 | Unfavourable |
| Ealing | 1.68 | Most Favourable | 0.52 | Upper Middling | 0.65 | Upper Middling | 1.45 | Favourable |
| East Ayrshire | -0.64 | Lower Middling | -1.18 | Unfavourable | -1.32 | Unfavourable | -1.00 | Unfavourable |
| East Dunbartonshire | -0.72 | Lower Middling | 0.34 | Middling | -0.82 | Lower Middling | 0.27 | Middling |
| East Lothian | -0.81 | Lower Middling | -0.72 | Lower Middling | -0.44 | Middling | -0.80 | Lower Middling |
| East Renfrewshire | -0.55 | Lower Middling | -0.58 | Lower Middling | -0.95 | Lower Middling | 0.53 | Upper Middling |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | -0.28 | Middling | -1.04 | Unfavourable | -0.46 | Middling | -0.71 | Lower Middling |
| East Sussex CC | -0.56 | Lower Middling | -0.60 | Lower Middling | -0.34 | Middling | -0.50 | Middling |
| Enfield | 0.38 | Middling | -0.47 | Middling | -0.14 | Middling | 0.57 | Upper Middling |
| Essex | 0.71 | Upper Middling | 0.61 | Upper Middling | 0.50 | Middling | 0.87 | Upper Middling |
| Falkirk | -0.58 | Lower Middling | -0.38 | Middling | 0.59 | Upper Middling | -0.22 | Middling |
| Fife | -1.11 | Unfavourable | -0.54 | Lower Middling | -0.70 | Lower Middling | -0.73 | Lower Middling |
| Flintshire | -0.46 | Middling | -0.57 | Lower Middling | 0.17 | Middling | 0.18 | Middling |
| Gateshead | -0.59 | Lower Middling | 0.49 | Middling | 0.25 | Middling | -0.17 | Middling |
| Glasgow City | 0.62 | Upper Middling | 0.74 | Upper Middling | -0.09 | Middling | 0.12 | Middling |
| Gloucestershire CC | 0.19 | Middling | -0.05 | Middling | 0.12 | Middling | -0.12 | Middling |
| Greenwich | 1.41 | Favourable | 0.67 | Upper Middling | 1.36 | Favourable | 1.11 | Favourable |
| Gwynedd | -0.87 | Lower Middling | -0.42 | Middling | -0.81 | Lower Middling | -1.05 | Unfavourable |
| Hackney | 2.47 | Most Favourable | 1.92 | Most Favourable | 1.23 | Favourable | 0.60 | Upper Middling |
| Halton | 0.03 | Middling | -0.36 | Middling | 0.10 | Middling | -0.64 | Lower Middling |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 3.77 | Most Favourable | 2.64 | Most Favourable | 3.94 | Most Favourable | 3.60 | Most Favourable |
| Hampshire | -0.02 | Middling | 0.47 | Middling | 0.32 | Middling | 0.47 | Middling |
| Haringey | 1.24 | Favourable | 1.23 | Favourable | 0.70 | Upper Middling | 1.47 | Favourable |
| Harrow | 0.09 | Middling | 1.00 | Favourable | 1.36 | Favourable | 1.38 | Favourable |
| Hartlepool | -0.83 | Lower Middling | -1.25 | Unfavourable | -0.40 | Middling | -1.08 | Unfavourable |
| Havering | 1.25 | Favourable | 1.33 | Favourable | 1.19 | Favourable | 1.55 | Most Favourable |
| Herefordshire, County of | -0.50 | Middling | -0.62 | Lower Middling | -0.56 | Lower Middling | -0.65 | Lower Middling |
| Hertfordshire CC | 0.70 | Upper Middling | 1.53 | Most Favourable | 1.08 | Favourable | 1.41 | Favourable |
| Highland | -0.92 | Lower Middling | -0.97 | Lower Middling | -0.94 | Lower Middling | -0.86 | Lower Middling |
| Hillingdon | 0.21 | Middling | 0.55 | Upper Middling | 0.68 | Upper Middling | 1.06 | Favourable |
| Hounslow | 0.83 | Upper Middling | 0.66 | Upper Middling | 0.81 | Upper Middling | 0.87 | Upper Middling |
| Inverclyde | -0.63 | Lower Middling | 0.24 | Middling | -0.57 | Lower Middling | -0.63 | Lower Middling |
| Isle of Anglesey | -0.94 | Lower Middling | -0.70 | Lower Middling | -0.89 | Lower Middling | -1.32 | Unfavourable |
| Isle of Wight | -0.65 | Lower Middling | -1.36 | Unfavourable | -0.89 | Lower Middling | -0.82 | Lower Middling |
| Islington | 2.91 | Most Favourable | 3.27 | Most Favourable | 2.63 | Most Favourable | 2.30 | Most Favourable |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 1.89 | Most Favourable | 1.71 | Most Favourable | 3.45 | Most Favourable | 2.87 | Most Favourable |
| Kent | -0.60 | Lower Middling | -0.15 | Middling | -0.31 | Middling | 0.10 | Middling |
| Kingston upon Hull, City of | -0.93 | Lower Middling | -0.52 | Lower Middling | -1.28 | Unfavourable | -1.28 | Unfavourable |
| Kingston upon Thames | 0.76 | Upper Middling | 0.12 | Middling | 0.59 | Upper Middling | 1.72 | Most Favourable |
| Kirklees | -0.18 | Middling | -0.66 | Lower Middling | -0.51 | Lower Middling | -0.19 | Middling |
| Knowsley | -0.73 | Lower Middling | -0.64 | Lower Middling | -0.67 | Lower Middling | -0.67 | Lower Middling |
| Lambeth | 4.13 | Most Favourable | 4.19 | Most Favourable | 2.85 | Most Favourable | 2.17 | Most Favourable |
| Lancashire | -0.75 | Lower Middling | -0.30 | Middling | -0.57 | Lower Middling | -0.32 | Middling |
| Leeds | 0.71 | Upper Middling | 0.51 | Upper Middling | 0.21 | Middling | 0.06 | Middling |
| Leicester | -0.30 | Middling | -0.65 | Lower Middling | -0.98 | Lower Middling | -0.74 | Lower Middling |
| Leicestershire CC | -0.01 | Middling | 0.30 | Middling | -0.11 | Middling | -0.15 | Middling |
| Lewisham | 3.10 | Most Favourable | 2.56 | Most Favourable | 1.03 | Favourable | 1.57 | Most Favourable |
| Lincolnshire CC | -0.93 | Lower Middling | -0.64 | Lower Middling | -0.82 | Lower Middling | -1.03 | Unfavourable |
| Liverpool | 0.14 | Middling | -0.90 | Lower Middling | -0.49 | Middling | -0.65 | Lower Middling |
| Luton | -0.27 | Middling | -0.53 | Lower Middling | -0.43 | Middling | 0.19 | Middling |
| Manchester | 0.40 | Middling | -0.09 | Middling | -0.09 | Middling | -0.12 | Middling |
| Medway | 0.29 | Middling | 0.56 | Upper Middling | -0.27 | Middling | 0.18 | Middling |
| Merthyr Tydfil | -0.79 | Lower Middling | -0.06 | Middling | -1.07 | Unfavourable | -1.07 | Unfavourable |
| Merton | 2.20 | Most Favourable | 1.48 | Favourable | 1.75 | Most Favourable | 2.63 | Most Favourable |
| Middlesbrough | -1.13 | Unfavourable | -0.61 | Lower Middling | -1.06 | Unfavourable | -1.20 | Unfavourable |
| Midlothian | -0.32 | Middling | -0.10 | Middling | 0.13 | Middling | 0.03 | Middling |
| Milton Keynes | 0.54 | Upper Middling | 1.32 | Favourable | 0.66 | Upper Middling | 0.56 | Upper Middling |
| Monmouthshire | -0.29 | Middling | -1.31 | Unfavourable | 0.14 | Middling | -0.65 | Lower Middling |
| Moray | -1.26 | Unfavourable | -1.17 | Unfavourable | -0.74 | Lower Middling | 0.00 | Middling |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | -1.10 | Unfavourable | -1.03 | Unfavourable | -0.61 | Lower Middling | -0.90 | Lower Middling |
| Neath Port Talbot | -1.03 | Unfavourable | -1.26 | Unfavourable | -0.57 | Lower Middling | -0.92 | Lower Middling |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 0.42 | Middling | -0.26 | Middling | -0.54 | Lower Middling | -0.28 | Middling |
| Newham | 1.44 | Favourable | 0.36 | Middling | -0.51 | Lower Middling | -0.32 | Middling |
| Newport | -0.05 | Middling | -0.15 | Middling | -0.48 | Middling | -0.41 | Middling |
| North Ayrshire mainland | -1.04 | Unfavourable | -0.97 | Lower Middling | -1.30 | Unfavourable | -1.11 | Unfavourable |
| North East Lincolnshire | -0.40 | Middling | -0.42 | Middling | -1.16 | Unfavourable | -1.68 | Least Favourable |
| North Lanarkshire | -0.72 | Lower Middling | -0.60 | Lower Middling | -0.56 | Lower Middling | -0.57 | Lower Middling |
| North Lincolnshire | -1.23 | Unfavourable | -1.29 | Unfavourable | -0.76 | Lower Middling | -1.00 | Unfavourable |
| North Northamptonshire | -0.99 | Lower Middling | 0.04 | Middling | -0.35 | Middling | -0.09 | Middling |
| North Somerset | 0.13 | Middling | -0.24 | Middling | -0.13 | Middling | 0.11 | Middling |
| North Tyneside | -0.53 | Lower Middling | -0.08 | Middling | -0.01 | Middling | 0.04 | Middling |
| North Yorkshire CC | -0.32 | Middling | -0.44 | Middling | -0.67 | Lower Middling | -0.06 | Middling |
| Northern Ireland | -0.95 | Lower Middling | -1.06 | Unfavourable | -0.85 | Lower Middling | -0.98 | Lower Middling |
| Northumberland | -0.86 | Lower Middling | 0.12 | Middling | -0.22 | Middling | -0.83 | Lower Middling |
| Norwich and Norfolk | -0.72 | Lower Middling | -0.37 | Middling | -0.35 | Middling | -0.39 | Middling |
| Nottingham | -0.21 | Middling | -0.36 | Middling | -0.61 | Lower Middling | -0.56 | Lower Middling |
| Nottinghamshire | 0.05 | Middling | -0.65 | Lower Middling | -0.62 | Lower Middling | -0.49 | Middling |
| Oldham | -0.57 | Lower Middling | -0.48 | Middling | -0.75 | Lower Middling | -0.65 | Lower Middling |
| Orkney Islands | -0.81 | Lower Middling | -0.51 | Lower Middling | -0.94 | Lower Middling | -0.68 | Lower Middling |
| Oxfordshire CC | 0.46 | Middling | 1.29 | Favourable | 0.47 | Middling | 0.91 | Upper Middling |
| Pembrokeshire | -0.90 | Lower Middling | -0.42 | Middling | -1.53 | Least Favourable | -1.05 | Unfavourable |
| Perth and Kinross | -0.92 | Lower Middling | -0.77 | Lower Middling | -0.51 | Lower Middling | 0.19 | Middling |
| Peterborough | -0.22 | Middling | -0.54 | Lower Middling | -0.47 | Middling | 0.53 | Upper Middling |
| Plymouth | -0.16 | Middling | -0.23 | Middling | -0.35 | Middling | -0.47 | Middling |
| Portsmouth | 0.08 | Middling | -0.05 | Middling | 0.42 | Middling | -0.02 | Middling |
| Powys | -0.16 | Middling | -0.89 | Lower Middling | -1.13 | Unfavourable | -0.81 | Lower Middling |
| Reading | 0.88 | Upper Middling | 1.71 | Most Favourable | 1.67 | Most Favourable | 1.37 | Favourable |
| Redbridge | 0.13 | Middling | 1.11 | Favourable | 0.75 | Upper Middling | 1.19 | Favourable |
| Redcar and Cleveland | -0.79 | Lower Middling | -1.21 | Unfavourable | -0.55 | Lower Middling | -0.99 | Lower Middling |
| Renfrewshire | -0.01 | Middling | -0.25 | Middling | -0.27 | Middling | -0.40 | Middling |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | -0.66 | Lower Middling | -1.02 | Unfavourable | -0.95 | Lower Middling | -1.28 | Unfavourable |
| Richmond upon Thames | 0.14 | Middling | 1.61 | Most Favourable | 2.19 | Most Favourable | 2.32 | Most Favourable |
| Rochdale | -0.07 | Middling | -0.48 | Middling | -0.43 | Middling | -0.54 | Lower Middling |
| Rotherham | -0.69 | Lower Middling | -0.39 | Middling | -0.54 | Lower Middling | -0.55 | Lower Middling |
| Rutland | -0.09 | Middling | -0.34 | Middling | -0.63 | Lower Middling | -0.57 | Lower Middling |
| Salford | 1.08 | Favourable | 0.14 | Middling | 0.25 | Middling | 0.02 | Middling |
| Sandwell | -0.87 | Lower Middling | -1.02 | Unfavourable | -0.11 | Middling | -0.59 | Lower Middling |
| Scottish Borders | -1.04 | Unfavourable | -0.83 | Lower Middling | -1.32 | Unfavourable | -0.99 | Lower Middling |
| Sefton | -0.25 | Middling | 0.00 | Middling | -0.12 | Middling | -0.49 | Middling |
| Sheffield | -0.12 | Middling | -0.40 | Middling | -0.10 | Middling | -0.32 | Middling |
| Shetland Islands | -1.08 | Unfavourable | -1.08 | Unfavourable | -0.43 | Middling | -0.70 | Lower Middling |
| Shropshire | -0.91 | Lower Middling | -0.37 | Middling | -0.46 | Middling | -0.42 | Middling |
| Slough | -0.18 | Middling | 0.20 | Middling | 0.49 | Middling | 1.33 | Favourable |
| Solihull | 0.09 | Middling | 0.51 | Upper Middling | -0.17 | Middling | 0.43 | Middling |
| Somerset CC | -0.12 | Middling | -0.61 | Lower Middling | -0.28 | Middling | -0.65 | Lower Middling |
| South Ayrshire | -0.42 | Middling | -0.67 | Lower Middling | -1.11 | Unfavourable | -0.69 | Lower Middling |
| South Gloucestershire | 1.12 | Favourable | 0.40 | Middling | 0.93 | Upper Middling | 1.56 | Most Favourable |
| South Lanarkshire | 0.05 | Middling | -0.15 | Middling | -0.39 | Middling | -0.15 | Middling |
| South Tyneside | -0.52 | Lower Middling | -0.34 | Middling | -0.23 | Middling | -0.87 | Lower Middling |
| Southampton | 0.49 | Middling | -0.33 | Middling | 0.54 | Upper Middling | 0.05 | Middling |
| Southend-on-Sea | 0.53 | Upper Middling | 0.91 | Upper Middling | 0.93 | Upper Middling | 0.25 | Middling |
| Southwark | 3.52 | Most Favourable | 2.51 | Most Favourable | 2.09 | Most Favourable | 1.25 | Favourable |
| St Helens | 0.43 | Middling | -0.60 | Lower Middling | -0.56 | Lower Middling | -0.42 | Middling |
| Staffordshire CC | -0.12 | Middling | -0.58 | Lower Middling | -0.30 | Middling | -0.20 | Middling |
| Stirling | -0.83 | Lower Middling | -1.16 | Unfavourable | -0.61 | Lower Middling | -0.41 | Middling |
| Stockport | 0.35 | Middling | 1.02 | Favourable | 0.92 | Upper Middling | 0.14 | Middling |
| Stockton-on-Tees | -1.30 | Unfavourable | -0.35 | Middling | -0.25 | Middling | -1.07 | Unfavourable |
| Stoke-on-Trent | -0.56 | Lower Middling | -0.55 | Lower Middling | -0.60 | Lower Middling | -1.18 | Unfavourable |
| Suffolk CC | -0.39 | Middling | -0.36 | Middling | 0.16 | Middling | 0.07 | Middling |
| Sunderland | -0.91 | Lower Middling | -0.81 | Lower Middling | -0.80 | Lower Middling | -0.85 | Lower Middling |
| Surrey | 0.80 | Upper Middling | 0.53 | Upper Middling | 0.76 | Upper Middling | 1.27 | Favourable |
| Sutton | 1.44 | Favourable | 1.53 | Most Favourable | 0.37 | Middling | 1.69 | Most Favourable |
| Swansea | -0.62 | Lower Middling | -0.89 | Lower Middling | -0.90 | Lower Middling | -1.15 | Unfavourable |
| Swindon | 0.12 | Middling | 0.24 | Middling | 0.48 | Middling | 1.26 | Favourable |
| Tameside | 0.38 | Middling | 0.16 | Middling | -0.39 | Middling | -0.02 | Middling |
| Telford and Wrekin | -0.91 | Lower Middling | -0.61 | Lower Middling | -0.38 | Middling | -0.53 | Lower Middling |
| Thurrock | 0.58 | Upper Middling | 0.07 | Middling | 0.89 | Upper Middling | 1.00 | Favourable |
| Torbay | -0.90 | Lower Middling | 0.02 | Middling | -0.82 | Lower Middling | -0.80 | Lower Middling |
| Torfaen | -0.20 | Middling | -0.72 | Lower Middling | -1.54 | Least Favourable | -0.45 | Middling |
| Tower Hamlets | 2.83 | Most Favourable | 2.63 | Most Favourable | 1.97 | Most Favourable | 1.38 | Favourable |
| Trafford | 0.77 | Upper Middling | 0.52 | Upper Middling | 0.50 | Upper Middling | 0.67 | Upper Middling |
| Vale of Glamorgan | -0.39 | Middling | -0.47 | Middling | 0.47 | Middling | -0.74 | Lower Middling |
| Wakefield | 0.07 | Middling | -0.20 | Middling | -0.39 | Middling | -0.74 | Lower Middling |
| Walsall | -0.34 | Middling | -0.40 | Middling | -0.53 | Lower Middling | -0.67 | Lower Middling |
| Waltham Forest | 0.94 | Upper Middling | 0.09 | Middling | -0.04 | Middling | 0.09 | Middling |
| Wandsworth | 3.80 | Most Favourable | 4.45 | Most Favourable | 4.59 | Most Favourable | 4.08 | Most Favourable |
| Warrington | 0.13 | Middling | 0.16 | Middling | 0.17 | Middling | 0.28 | Middling |
| Warwickshire CC | 0.17 | Middling | 0.69 | Upper Middling | 0.24 | Middling | 0.19 | Middling |
| West Berkshire | 0.58 | Upper Middling | 1.09 | Favourable | 0.85 | Upper Middling | 1.53 | Most Favourable |
| West Dunbartonshire | 0.03 | Middling | -0.81 | Lower Middling | -0.65 | Lower Middling | -1.08 | Unfavourable |
| West Lothian | -0.93 | Lower Middling | -0.74 | Lower Middling | -0.46 | Middling | -0.29 | Middling |
| West Northamptonshire | 0.59 | Upper Middling | 0.26 | Middling | 0.01 | Middling | 0.19 | Middling |
| West Sussex | -0.21 | Middling | 0.09 | Middling | 0.07 | Middling | 0.15 | Middling |
| Westminster | 2.66 | Most Favourable | 2.63 | Most Favourable | 3.49 | Most Favourable | 2.87 | Most Favourable |
| Wigan | 0.23 | Middling | -0.42 | Middling | -0.11 | Middling | -0.35 | Middling |
| Wiltshire | -0.37 | Middling | 0.00 | Middling | -0.29 | Middling | -0.36 | Middling |
| Windsor and Maidenhead | 0.49 | Middling | 2.15 | Most Favourable | 1.28 | Favourable | 1.96 | Most Favourable |
| Wirral | -0.42 | Middling | -0.35 | Middling | -0.24 | Middling | -0.38 | Middling |
| Wokingham | 0.33 | Middling | 1.62 | Most Favourable | 1.46 | Favourable | 1.65 | Most Favourable |
| Wolverhampton | -0.68 | Lower Middling | -0.87 | Lower Middling | -0.44 | Middling | -0.78 | Lower Middling |
| Worcestershire CC | 0.03 | Middling | -0.00 | Middling | -0.19 | Middling | -0.38 | Middling |
| Wrexham | -0.52 | Lower Middling | -0.70 | Lower Middling | -0.28 | Middling | -0.73 | Lower Middling |
| York | 0.59 | Upper Middling | -0.33 | Middling | 0.12 | Middling | -0.22 | Middling |
Download
For the full download file, see Download the data.
Summary main findings
Data for 2018 to 2024 combined shows that the ‘north-south divide’ for young people's labour market opportunities was clearer than it was for conditions of childhood.
The most favourable labour market opportunities were in some London boroughs, Bristol, and several areas in the South of England. This means young people living there were:
- more likely to be in professional occupations
- less likely to be in working class occupations
- more likely to have high earnings
However, some more rural areas in the South of England such as Cornwall, Devon, Wiltshire and Sussex had below-average scores. There were fewer local authorities with favourable opportunities in Scotland and the North West of England. In Scotland, both Edinburgh and Glasgow had above average scores, as did Manchester, Salford, and Trafford in the North West of England. Cardiff was the only local authority in Wales with a score above the average.
Areas with unfavourable opportunities include:
- older industrial and port areas in the north, such as Stockton-on-Tees, North Lincolnshire and Middlesbrough
- some rural and island regions such as Argyll and Bute and Shetland Islands
When looking at changes over time, some rural areas in Scotland saw a decline in opportunities, while several Welsh council areas saw improvements. Greater distances to major urban centres in rural Scotland might make it harder for young people to find professional and higher-paid jobs.
About the data
Data source(s)
Labour Force Survey (LFS), Office for National Statistics
Time period
- 2000 to 2005 combined
- 2006 to 2011 combined
- 2012 to 2017 combined
- 2018 to 2024 combined
Geographic area
UK
What the data measures
This page combines data from the following drivers into a single 'composite' score:
- Type of employment opportunities for young people – data on young people in working class and professional occupational levels
- Earnings of young people – data on labour market earnings for 16 to 29 year olds
Things you need to know
Areas are based on where respondents lived at the time they were surveyed, not where they grew up.
To increase the number of survey respondents, we have combined:
- the ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ professional classes into a single category
- the same with the ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ working classes into a single category
Data constraints mean that Northern Ireland is treated as a single unit. Local authorities have been combined in a few other cases.
The unit used for this index is the 'Z-score'. This is a type of statistical measurement which can be used to tell us how likely it is that a region is different to the UK average.
The values shown are not percentages, and the difference between regions cannot be compared in percentage terms.
The Z-scores are used to put regions into one of 7 groups, according to a set of thresholds for each group. See our technical annex for more information on how each area was scored.
We have used the LFS to produce the ‘earnings of young people’ driver in this composite index. This differs from the corresponding indicator in the Social Mobility Index, for which we use ASHE. This is due to a lack of granularity in the ASHE data.
Type of data
Survey data
Download the data
Download full dataset (CSV, 152KB)
This file contains the following variables:
- Measure code
- Measure title
- Chart type
- Area type
- Area name
- Primary split type
- Primary split value
- Secondary split type
- Secondary split value
- Time period
- Value
- Unit
- Group number
Page history
Publication release date:
18 December 2025