According to data from 2016-17, 35 small areas in Wales had employment deprivation rates of 25% or higher among the working age population. The highest rates were in Rhyl West 2 in Denbighshire (45%) and Glyn (Conwy) 2 in Conwy (37%). While these areas had the highest concentrations, employment deprivation affected people throughout Wales, with over 95% living outside these 35 areas. The majority claiming benefits in areas of high deprivation did so due to ill health rather than unemployment.

1. Employment Deprivation
in Wales
What does the data from the
2016-17 financial year tell us?

2. There are 1,909 small areas in Wales with a
population of around 1,600.
In 35of these areas,
25% or more of the working-age
population are in employment deprivation.

3. This means they are involuntary excluded from
work. This includes those who cannot work due
to ill-health and those who are unemployed, but
actively seeking work.
It is based on those claiming employment related
benefits like Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment
Support Allowance or Universal Credit.

4. Where are these areas?
6 are in Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 are in Swansea
5 are in Neath Port Talbot
4 are in Denbighshire
3 are in Caerphilly
3 are in Conwy
2 are in Bridgend
2 are in Newport
2 are in Cardiff
1 is in Powys
1 is in Carmarthenshire
1 is in Blaenau Gwent

5. What’s the highest rate?
45% of the working-age
population are in employment
deprivation in Rhyl West 2,
Denbighshire, North Wales
This area has consistently had
the highest rate in recent
years.
The next highest rate is 37% in
Glyn (Conwy) 2, Conwy, North
Wales

6. Which age groups have the highest
rates in these areas?
Average employment deprivation rates for each age group
for the 35 small areas with an overall rate of employment
deprivation of 25% or higher, 2016-17 Older age groups are
more likely to be
employment deprived in
these areas
However, in Rhyl West 2,
74% of the 35 to 39 age
group were employment
deprived and in Glyn
(Conwy) 2, 42% of the
19 to 24 age group were.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
16 to 18 19 to 24 25 to 29 30 to 34 35 to 39 40 to 44 45 to 49 50 to 54 55 to 59 60 to 64
%
Age group

7. What type of employment related
benefit is most common in these areas?
In these areas the majority of the claimants
are claiming a benefit related to ill-health, such as
Employment Support Allowance.
However, this is not specific to the small areas with high
employment deprivation - it is true for the vast majority of
small areas throughout Wales.
Note: This has been calculated by subtracting figures on the number of claimants of benefits related to searching for work
(published on Nomis) from the number of people in employment deprivation as a whole (supplied by the Department for Work
and Pensions)

8. Even in these 35 small areas the majority of people (55% to 75%) are
not in employment deprivation.
But not all working-age people in these
areas are employment deprived

9. Even in these 35 small areas the majority of people (55% to 75%) are
not in employment deprivation.
But not all working-age people in these
areas are employment deprived
Also, there are some employment
deprived people in all areas
These areas contain around 5% of all employment deprived people in
Wales, meaning 95% of them live elsewhere.
In fact, over a quarter of those in employment deprivation live in the least
deprived half of the small areas in Wales.

10. A list of the areas
Lower-layer Super Output
Area Local Authority
Employment
Deprivation Rate
Rhyl West 2 Denbighshire 45
Glyn (Conwy) 2 Conwy 37
St. James 3 Caerphilly 35
Castle 2 North Swansea 34
Rhyl West 1 Denbighshire 33
Abergele Pensarn 2 Conwy 32
Tyisha 2 Carmarthenshire 30
Twyn Carno 1 Caerphilly 30
Neath North 2 Neath Port Talbot 30
Caerau (Bridgend) 1 Bridgend 30
Castle 1 Swansea 30
Tredegar Central and West 2 Blaenau Gwent 29
Pillgwenlly 4 Newport 29
Tylorstown 1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 28
Penderry 3 Swansea 28
Townhill 2 Swansea 28
Cymmer (Neath Port Talbot)
2 Neath Port Talbot 27
Bargoed 4 Caerphilly 27
Lower-layer Super Output
Area Local Authority
Employment
Deprivation Rate
Maerdy 2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 27
Rhyl East 3 Denbighshire 26
Mynyddbach 1 Swansea 26
Bettws (Newport) 1 Newport 26
Rhiw 3 Conwy 26
Penrhiwceiber 1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 26
Neath East 2 Neath Port Talbot 26
Plasnewydd 7 Cardiff 26
Pentre 3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 26
Briton Ferry West 1 Neath Port Talbot 26
Caerau (Bridgend) 2 Bridgend 25
Aberavon 4 Neath Port Talbot 25
Pen-y-waun 2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 25
Rhyl West 3 Denbighshire 25
Splott 6 Cardiff 25
Rhydfelen Central / Llan 2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 25
Ystradgynlais 1 Powys 25

11. Would you like more information?
The information contained here comes from the annual update to a
selection of indicators that feed into the Welsh Index of Multiple
Deprivation (WIMD).
You can find more information about employment deprivation and
all the other indicators included in WIMD by visiting our webpages:
The WIMD webpage
The WIMD indicator webpage
WIMD on StatsWales
Or you can email our team:
stats.inclusion@gov.wales