Socio-economic statistics for Fairburn, North Yorkshire

Socio-economic statistics for Fairburn, North Yorkshire

We have collated a series of socio-economic statistics for Fairburn in Wakefield from UK government sources such as the 2021 Census and the Index of Multiple Deprivation. They should give you a broad snapshot of the area and the surrounding locations. Are the residents of Fairburn older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Fairburn and Wakefield? Is Fairburn an unemployment hotspot? This page should provide you with the answers.

Fairburn Unemployment Statistics

Since the introduction of Universal Credit, The Department for Work & Pensions have not issued any statistics (in our view) that can be used to ascertain the levels of unemployment or under employment in the UK, just meaningless geographic counts. However, the Office of National Statistics does publish claimant counts of people receiving out of work benefits, be that legacy Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit as a proportion of people over 16. These figures are usually updated once a month and are for Local Authority Districts and Unitary Authority Districts. So below are the figures of Wakefield.
Area Unemployed Yearly Change
Wakefield 3.7% -0.3%
Yorkshire and The Humber 4.2% -0.3%
England 3.8% -0.3%
UK 3.7% -0.3%
Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Last Retrieved: March 2023
The 2021 census had data on people who were economically active (seeking work) yet unemployed on Census day (Sunday March 21st 2021). These statitics do cover Fairburn on a ward level. However, it has to be noted that the Census day was during the height of the Covid19 pandemic and therefore are not reflective of normal levels of unemployment. For example, between March 2020 and June 2020 people claiming Universal Credit doubled in most areas of the United Kingdom and then steadily declined up to the day of the Census and beyond. This data also contains the proportion of people in part-time work (working between 1-35 hours per week), which maybe an indicator of under employment in Fairburn.
Economic Status Proportion
In Employment 51.36%
In Part-Time Work 26.55%
Unemployed 5.92%
73.45% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Fairburn

Fairburn Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Airedale and Ferry Fryston.
Age Band Proportion
4 & under
5 - 9 years
10 - 15 years
16 - 19 years
20 - 24 years
25 - 34 years
35 - 49 years
50 - 64 years
65 - 74 years
75 - 84 years
85 years & over

What are the occupations of the residents of Fairburn?

The largest employment sector in Fairburn is Elementary Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Managers, Directors & Senior Officials.
Sector Proportion
Elementary Occupations 18.81%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives 13.48%
Skilled Trades 12.25%
Caring, leisure & Other Services 11.19%
Professional Occupations 9.79%
Associate Professional & Technical 8.84%
Administrative & Secretarial 8.22%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials 7.89%

Fairburn & Wakefield Immigration Statistics

We have analysed the Census 2021 raw data on country of birth and compiled immigration statistics as percentages of the population. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. Below are the figures for Fairburn in the Wakefield local area district.

Fairburn has a lower rate of immigrants than Wakefield, the Yorkshire and The Humber region and England as a whole.
Area Born in UK Born outside UK
Airedale and Ferry Fryston 93.76% 6.24%
Wakefield 91.49% 8.51%
Yorkshire and The Humber 88.65% 11.35%
England 82.65% 17.35%

Fairburn compared to other wards in Wakefield

# Ward Born in UK Born outside UK
1 Wakefield East 69.94% 30.06%
2 Wakefield North 80.05% 19.95%
3 Wakefield South 83.79% 16.21%
4 Wakefield West 86.73% 13.27%
5 Normanton 88.97% 11.03%
6 South Elmsall and South Kirkby 91.79% 8.21%
7 Stanley and Outwood East 92.6% 7.4%
8 Castleford Central and Glasshoughton 93.25% 6.75%
9 Pontefract North 93.48% 6.52%
10 Airedale and Ferry Fryston 93.76% 6.24%
11 Wrenthorpe and Outwood West 93.89% 6.11%
12 Altofts and Whitwood 94.16% 5.84%
13 Featherstone 94.63% 5.37%
14 Knottingley 94.68% 5.32%
15 Hemsworth 95.06% 4.94%
16 Crofton, Ryhill and Walton 95.31% 4.69%
17 Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton 95.42% 4.58%
18 Wakefield Rural 95.86% 4.14%
19 Pontefract South 95.94% 4.06%
20 Ossett 96.21% 3.79%
21 Horbury and South Ossett 96.53% 3.47%
'; Fairburn is ranked 10 out of 21 wards in Wakefield for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

How many residents own or rent their home in Fairburn and Wakefield

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Fairburn either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 54.53 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 45.47 of Fairburn residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
Area Owned Rented
Airedale and Ferry Fryston 54.53% 45.47%
Wakefield 62.6% 37.4%
Yorkshire and The Humber 62.58% 37.42%
England 61.31% 38.69%

Fairburn has a lower level of home ownership than than the national average.

Fairburn compared to other wards in Wakefield

# Ward Owned Rented
1 Wakefield Rural 77.04% 22.96%
2 Stanley and Outwood East 74.61% 25.39%
3 Wrenthorpe and Outwood West 74.49% 25.51%
4 Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton 71.97% 28.03%
5 Crofton, Ryhill and Walton 71.84% 28.16%
6 Horbury and South Ossett 68.67% 31.33%
7 Pontefract South 67.08% 32.92%
8 Altofts and Whitwood 66.55% 33.45%
9 Ossett 66.45% 33.55%
10 Castleford Central and Glasshoughton 66.16% 33.84%
11 Wakefield South 64.42% 35.58%
12 Pontefract North 62.96% 37.04%
13 Featherstone 60.14% 39.86%
14 Normanton (Wakefield) 59.14% 40.86%
15 Hemsworth 57.9% 42.1%
16 Knottingley 57.3% 42.7%
17 South Elmsall and South Kirkby 56.61% 43.39%
18 Airedale and Ferry Fryston 54.53% 45.47%
19 Wakefield West 48.77% 51.23%
20 Wakefield North 47.57% 52.43%
21 Wakefield East 38.57% 61.43%
Fairburn is ranked 18 out of 21 wards in Wakefield for the percentage of home owners.

Fairburn Health Statistics

Airedale and Ferry Fryston has a significantly lower proportion of residents (>5%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.
Area VG G F B VB
Airedale and Ferry Fryston 41.78% 33.51% 15.98% 6.66% 2.08%
Wakefield 44.71% 34.29% 14.46% 5.07% 1.48%
Yorkshire and The Humber 46.18% 34.31% 13.7% 4.49% 1.32%
England 48.49% 33.71% 12.65% 3.98% 1.17%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

How has the health of residents in Wakefield changed since 2011?

Wakefield residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 2.21% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
Year VG G F B VB
2011 42.75% 34.04% 15.53% 5.99% 1.7%
2021 44.71% 34.29% 14.46% 5.07% 1.48%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

Fairburn Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Fairburn residents have in terms of formal qualifications as a percentage. The UK government breaks qualifications down into 7 levels. A detailed explanation of these levels can be found here. However, the Census groups these into just 4 \'levels\'. Here are some examples of the qualifications each census level represents when not stated;

  • Level 1 - GCSE grades D, E, F, or G & below
  • Level 2 - GCSE A*, A, B, C or O Level grades A, B or C
  • Level 3 - A or AS qualification at any grade
  • Level 4 - HNC, Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree or Phd

In this first table we have compared Fairburn to the national average for England.
Level Airedale and Ferry Fryston England
No Qualifications 32.81% 18.08%
Level 1 12.13% 9.69%
Level 2 15.44% 13.32%
Apprenticeship 6.05% 5.32%
Level 3 14.02% 16.92%
Level 4 16.5% 33.92%

What is the population of Fairburn and Wakefield?

The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in Wakefield including Fairburn. These population ONS figures are estimated are dated Mid 2020.

Ward Population
Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton 17746
Airedale and Ferry Fryston 15892
Altofts and Whitwood 18398
Castleford Central and Glasshoughton 16843
Crofton, Ryhill and Walton 15875
Featherstone 17299
Hemsworth 15979
Horbury and South Ossett 15513
Knottingley 14363
Normanton 17334
Ossett 16678
Pontefract North 18035
Pontefract South 15238
South Elmsall and South Kirkby 19279
Stanley and Outwood East 16568
Wakefield East 17232
Wakefield North 17647
Wakefield Rural 17736
Wakefield South 14906
Wakefield West 16555
Wrenthorpe and Outwood West 16476
Wakefield Total 351592



Last updated: 20/02/2024, Additional Sources: Office for National Statistics & Department for Work & Pensions.

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