Socio-economic statistics for Shirley, Solihull

Socio-economic statistics for Shirley, Solihull

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

Shirley & Solihull 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 Shirley in the Solihull local area district.

Area Born in UK Born outside UK
Shirley West 88.94% 11.06%
Solihull 89.71% 10.29%
West Midlands 84.84% 15.17%
England 82.65% 17.35%

Shirley compared to other wards in Solihull

# Ward Born in UK Born outside UK
1 Silhill 81.23% 18.77%
2 St Alphege 84.98% 15.02%
3 Shirley East 85.64% 14.36%
4 Olton 86.08% 13.92%
5 Lyndon 87.63% 12.37%
6 Shirley South 87.99% 12.01%
7 Elmdon 88.27% 11.73%
8 Blythe 88.82% 11.18%
9 Shirley West 88.94% 11.06%
10 Kingshurst and Fordbridge 92.28% 7.72%
11 Bickenhill 92.72% 7.28%
12 Smith's Wood 92.96% 7.04%
13 Knowle 93.14% 6.86%
14 Dorridge and Hockley Heath 93.43% 6.57%
15 Chelmsley Wood 93.52% 6.48%
16 Castle Bromwich 94.08% 5.92%
17 Meriden 94.35% 5.65%
'; Shirley is ranked 9 out of 17 wards in Solihull for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Shirley Health Statistics

Shirley West 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
Shirley West 48.71% 34.68% 12.25% 3.32% 1.04%
Solihull 49.25% 33.38% 12.4% 3.84% 1.12%
West Midlands 46.4% 34.38% 13.54% 4.37% 1.31%
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 Solihull changed since 2011?

Solihull residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 0.92% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
Year VG G F B VB
2011 47.51% 34.2% 13.09% 3.99% 1.21%
2021 49.25% 33.38% 12.4% 3.84% 1.12%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

Shirley Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Shirley 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 Shirley to the national average for England.
Level Shirley West England
No Qualifications 18.01% 18.08%
Level 1 9.64% 9.69%
Level 2 14.4% 13.32%
Apprenticeship 5.01% 5.32%
Level 3 17.68% 16.92%
Level 4 32.89% 33.92%

Shirley 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 Solihull.
Area Unemployed Yearly Change
Solihull 3.3% -0.5%
West Midlands 5% -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 Shirley 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 Shirley.
Economic Status Proportion
In Employment 58.63%
In Part-Time Work 25.51%
Unemployed 4.13%
74.49% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Shirley

What are the occupations of the residents of Shirley?

The largest employment sector in Shirley is Professional Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
Sector Proportion
Professional Occupations 24.71%
Associate Professional & Technical 13.82%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials 12.15%
Administrative & Secretarial 11.29%
Skilled Trades 10.53%
Elementary Occupations 8.19%
Caring, leisure & Other Services 7.49%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives 5.07%

Shirley Age Distribution Statistics

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

How many residents own or rent their home in Shirley and Solihull

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Shirley either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 76.19 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 23.81 of Shirley residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
Area Owned Rented
Shirley West 76.19% 23.81%
Solihull 72.24% 27.76%
West Midlands 62.8% 37.2%
England 61.31% 38.69%

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

Shirley compared to other wards in Solihull

# Ward Owned Rented
1 St Alphege 86.65% 13.35%
2 Dorridge and Hockley Heath 85.74% 14.26%
3 Knowle (Solihull) 83.05% 16.95%
4 Castle Bromwich 81.93% 18.07%
5 Meriden (Solihull) 80.46% 19.54%
6 Shirley South (Solihull) 78.86% 21.14%
7 Shirley East 78.84% 21.16%
8 Blythe 76.28% 23.72%
9 Shirley West 76.19% 23.81%
10 Elmdon 76.03% 23.97%
11 Olton 75.83% 24.17%
12 Lyndon 74.8% 25.2%
13 Silhill 71.27% 28.73%
14 Bickenhill 70.69% 29.31%
15 Kingshurst and Fordbridge 49.08% 50.92%
16 Smith's Wood 49.05% 50.95%
17 Chelmsley Wood 41.16% 58.84%
Shirley is ranked 9 out of 17 wards in Solihull for the percentage of home owners.

What is the population of Shirley and Solihull?

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

Ward Population
Bickenhill 12847
Blythe 14738
Castle Bromwich 11280
Chelmsley Wood 13308
Dorridge and Hockley Heath 11465
Elmdon 12747
Kingshurst and Fordbridge 13575
Knowle 11276
Lyndon 13886
Meriden 12752
Olton 12837
Shirley East 12123
Shirley South 12537
Shirley West 12895
Silhill 12446
Smith's Wood 12929
St Alphege 13846
Solihull Total 217487



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

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