Socio-economic statistics for Shefford Woodlands, Berkshire

Socio-economic statistics for Shefford Woodlands, Berkshire

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

Shefford Woodlands Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Shefford Woodlands 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 Shefford Woodlands to the national average for England.
Level Downlands England
No Qualifications 11.9% 18.08%
Level 1 9.13% 9.69%
Level 2 14.7% 13.32%
Apprenticeship 4.66% 5.32%
Level 3 19.11% 16.92%
Level 4 37.92% 33.92%

What are the occupations of the residents of Shefford Woodlands?

The largest employment sector in Shefford Woodlands is Managers, Directors & Senior Officials. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
Sector Proportion
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials 22.55%
Professional Occupations 18.33%
Associate Professional & Technical 13.51%
Skilled Trades 12.49%
Administrative & Secretarial 8.99%
Caring, leisure & Other Services 7.67%
Elementary Occupations 6.86%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives 4.16%

How many residents own or rent their home in Shefford Woodlands and West Berkshire

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Shefford Woodlands either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 64.76 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 35.24 of Shefford Woodlands residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
Area Owned Rented
Downlands 64.76% 35.24%
West Berkshire 67.56% 32.44%
South East 65.66% 34.34%
England 61.31% 38.69%

Shefford Woodlands has a higher level of home ownership than than the national average.

Shefford Woodlands compared to other wards in West Berkshire

# Ward Owned Rented
1 Tilehurst & Purley 86.77% 13.23%
2 Thatcham Colthrop & Crookham 82.13% 17.87%
3 Tilehurst Birch Copse 79.65% 20.35%
4 Basildon 78.02% 21.98%
5 Newbury Wash Common 77.79% 22.21%
6 Chieveley & Cold Ash 76.69% 23.31%
7 Bucklebury 74.62% 25.38%
8 Tilehurst South & Holybrook 74.01% 25.99%
9 Thatcham West 73.62% 26.38%
10 Pangbourne 71.88% 28.13%
11 Burghfield & Mortimer 71.49% 28.51%
12 Aldermaston 71.31% 28.69%
13 Thatcham North East 66.1% 33.9%
14 Thatcham Central 65.16% 34.84%
15 Downlands 64.76% 35.24%
16 Hungerford & Kintbury 64.02% 35.98%
17 Bradfield 63.88% 36.12%
18 Newbury Speen 59.68% 40.32%
19 Ridgeway (West Berkshire) 59.67% 40.33%
20 Theale 58.74% 41.26%
21 Lambourn 58.32% 41.68%
22 Newbury Clay Hill 57.29% 42.71%
23 Newbury Greenham 54.98% 45.02%
24 Newbury Central 45.64% 54.36%
Shefford Woodlands is ranked 15 out of 24 wards in West Berkshire for the percentage of home owners.

Shefford Woodlands Age Distribution Statistics

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

Shefford Woodlands & West Berkshire 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 Shefford Woodlands in the West Berkshire local area district.

Shefford Woodlands has a lower rate of immigrants than West Berkshire, the South East region and England as a whole.
Area Born in UK Born outside UK
Downlands 93.16% 6.84%
West Berkshire 87.95% 12.05%
South East 84.24% 15.76%
England 82.65% 17.35%

Shefford Woodlands compared to other wards in West Berkshire

# Ward Born in UK Born outside UK
1 Newbury Central 76.49% 23.51%
2 Newbury Clay Hill 81.32% 18.68%
3 Tilehurst South & Holybrook 82.77% 17.23%
4 Newbury Greenham 82.96% 17.04%
5 Newbury Speen 85.59% 14.41%
6 Theale 87.95% 12.05%
7 Pangbourne 88.09% 11.91%
8 Tilehurst Birch Copse 88.72% 11.28%
9 Thatcham Central 88.84% 11.16%
10 Basildon 89.14% 10.86%
11 Bucklebury 89.53% 10.47%
12 Tilehurst & Purley 89.72% 10.28%
13 Bradfield 89.89% 10.11%
14 Burghfield & Mortimer 89.98% 10.02%
15 Newbury Wash Common 90.05% 9.95%
16 Chieveley & Cold Ash 90.31% 9.69%
17 Thatcham North East 90.37% 9.63%
18 Lambourn 90.39% 9.61%
19 Aldermaston 90.52% 9.48%
20 Ridgeway 90.66% 9.34%
21 Hungerford & Kintbury 91% 9%
22 Thatcham West 91.48% 8.52%
23 Thatcham Colthrop 92.04% 7.96%
24 Downlands 93.16% 6.84%
'; Shefford Woodlands is ranked 24 out of 24 wards in West Berkshire for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Shefford Woodlands 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 West Berkshire.
Area Unemployed Yearly Change
West Berkshire 2.1% -0.3%
South East 2.9% -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 Shefford Woodlands 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 Shefford Woodlands.
Economic Status Proportion
In Employment 61.94%
In Part-Time Work 26.81%
Unemployed 3.17%
73.19% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Shefford Woodlands

Shefford Woodlands Health Statistics

Downlands has more residents (very_good_pc-$country_health->very_good_pc, 2)%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.
Area VG G F B VB
Downlands 52.61% 33.92% 9.93% 2.87% 0.68%
West Berkshire 51.05% 34.65% 10.95% 2.68% 0.67%
South East 49.98% 34.01% 11.77% 3.31% 0.93%
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 West Berkshire changed since 2011?

West Berkshire residents who describe their health as either good or very good has decreased by 0.44% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
Year VG G F B VB
2011 51.64% 34.5% 10.7% 2.48% 0.68%
2021 51.05% 34.65% 10.95% 2.68% 0.67%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

What is the population of Shefford Woodlands and West Berkshire?

The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in West Berkshire including Shefford Woodlands. These population ONS figures are estimated are dated Mid 2020.

Ward Population
Aldermaston 3828
Basildon 3539
Bradfield 4408
Bucklebury 3606
Burghfield & Mortimer 10429
Chieveley & Cold Ash 8188
Downlands 3647
Hungerford & Kintbury 11361
Lambourn 4237
Newbury Central 7803
Newbury Clay Hill 7323
Newbury Greenham 12213
Newbury Speen 7266
Newbury Wash Common 8849
Pangbourne 3801
Ridgeway 4191
Thatcham Central 7959
Thatcham Colthrop & Crookham 2747
Thatcham North East 7898
Thatcham West 7209
Theale 2946
Tilehurst & Purley 10336
Tilehurst Birch Copse 7654
Tilehurst South & Holybrook 7027
West Berkshire Total 158465



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

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