Socio-economic statistics for Rayleigh, Essex

Socio-economic statistics for Rayleigh, Essex

We have collated a series of socio-economic statistics for Rayleigh in Rochford 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 Rayleigh older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Rayleigh and Rochford? Is Rayleigh an unemployment hotspot? This page should provide you with the answers.

Rayleigh Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Rayleigh 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 Rayleigh to the national average for England.
Level Wheatley England
No Qualifications 20.43% 18.08%
Level 1 12.71% 9.69%
Level 2 17.15% 13.32%
Apprenticeship 6.13% 5.32%
Level 3 17.08% 16.92%
Level 4 22.88% 33.92%

Rayleigh Health Statistics

Wheatley has a lower proportion of residents (very_good_pc-$ward_health->very_good_pc, 2)%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.
Area VG G F B VB
Wheatley (Rochford) 48.4% 33.46% 12.93% 4.08% 1.13%
Rochford 48.87% 34.52% 12.36% 3.31% 0.93%
East 48.28% 34.64% 12.5% 3.58% 1%
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 Rochford changed since 2011?

Rochford residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 0.71% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
Year VG G F B VB
2011 47.76% 34.92% 13.01% 3.38% 0.94%
2021 48.87% 34.52% 12.36% 3.31% 0.93%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

What are the occupations of the residents of Rayleigh?

The largest employment sector in Rayleigh is Professional Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
Sector Proportion
Professional Occupations 19.28%
Associate Professional & Technical 15.38%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials 14.49%
Administrative & Secretarial 13.43%
Skilled Trades 11.07%
Caring, leisure & Other Services 7.55%
Elementary Occupations 7.42%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives 4.48%

Rayleigh Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Wheatley.
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

Rayleigh 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 Rochford.
Area Unemployed Yearly Change
Rochford 2.1% -0.4%
East of England 3% -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 Rayleigh 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 Rayleigh.
Economic Status Proportion
In Employment 52.46%
In Part-Time Work 28.78%
Unemployed 4.5%
71.22% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Rayleigh

How many residents own or rent their home in Rayleigh and Rochford

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Rayleigh either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 75.97 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 24.03 of Rayleigh residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
Area Owned Rented
Wheatley (Rochford) 75.97% 24.03%
Rochford 80.64% 19.36%
East 65.23% 34.77%
England 61.31% 38.69%

Rayleigh has a significantly higher level of home ownership than the national average. This is indicative or an economically wealthy area.

Rayleigh compared to other wards in Rochford

# Ward Owned Rented
1 Hawkwell West 90.09% 9.91%
2 Hockley and Ashingdon 90.08% 9.92%
3 Hullbridge 89.17% 10.83%
4 Trinity (Rochford) 88.27% 11.73%
5 Lodge 86.37% 13.63%
6 Downhall and Rawreth 82.31% 17.69%
7 Hockley 82.13% 17.87%
8 Hawkwell East 81.14% 18.86%
9 Sweyne Park and Grange 77.71% 22.29%
10 Wheatley (Rochford) 75.97% 24.03%
11 Foulness and The Wakerings 75.05% 24.95%
12 Roche North and Rural 66.29% 33.71%
13 Roche South 66.15% 33.85%
Rayleigh is ranked 10 out of 13 wards in Rochford for the percentage of home owners.

Rayleigh & Rochford 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 Rayleigh in the Rochford local area district.

Area Born in UK Born outside UK
Wheatley (Rochford) 95.23% 4.77%
Rochford 95.96% 4.04%
East 85.09% 14.91%
England 82.65% 17.35%

Rayleigh compared to other wards in Rochford

# Ward Born in UK Born outside UK
1 Roche South 94.3% 5.7%
2 Wheatley 95.23% 4.77%
3 Sweyne Park and Grange 95.28% 4.72%
4 Hockley 95.57% 4.43%
5 Downhall and Rawreth 95.8% 4.2%
6 Lodge 96.03% 3.97%
7 Trinity 96.03% 3.97%
8 Roche North and Rural 96.17% 3.83%
9 Hawkwell East 96.26% 3.74%
10 Foulness and The Wakerings 96.37% 3.63%
11 Hockley and Ashingdon 96.61% 3.39%
12 Hawkwell West 96.73% 3.27%
13 Hullbridge 97.15% 2.85%
'; Rayleigh is ranked 2 out of 13 wards in Rochford for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

What is the population of Rayleigh and Rochford?

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

Ward Population
Downhall and Rawreth 7141
Foulness and The Wakerings 7033
Hawkwell East 6169
Hawkwell West 6785
Hockley 6428
Hockley and Ashingdon 6766
Hullbridge 6590
Lodge 6901
Roche North and Rural 7072
Roche South 6357
Sweyne Park and Grange 6691
Trinity 6995
Wheatley 6699
Rochford Total 87627



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

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