Socio-economic statistics for Besford, Worcestershire

Is Besford in Wychavon a nice place to live or is it a bit rough? We have collated a series of socio-economic statistics and demographics 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 Besford older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Besford and Wychavon? What is the claimant count in Besford and how many residents are unemployed? This page should provide you with the answers.

Besford Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Besford 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 Besford to the national average for England.

Level	Eckington	England
No Qualifications	13.41%	18.08%
Level 1	8.13%	9.69%
Level 2	13.33%	13.32%
Apprenticeship	5.7%	5.32%
Level 3	14.98%	16.92%
Level 4	42.22%	33.92%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Besford 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 Wychavon.

Area	Unemployed	Yearly Change
Wychavon	2.6%	-0.3%
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 Besford 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 Besford.

Economic Status	Proportion
In Employment	51.61%
In Part-Time Work	31.17%
Unemployed	2.04%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

68.83% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Besford

What are the occupations of the residents of Besford?

The largest employment sector in Besford is Managers, Directors & Senior Officials. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.

Sector	Proportion
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials	22.75%
Professional Occupations	22.35%
Associate Professional & Technical	13.27%
Skilled Trades	10.19%
Administrative & Secretarial	9.16%
Caring, leisure & Other Services	6.16%
Elementary Occupations	5.13%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives	4.42%

Source: Office for National Statistics (30 June 2020)

Besford Health Statistics

Eckington 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
Eckington	47.21%	35.49%	13.46%	2.97%	0.87%
Wychavon	47.43%	35.01%	12.95%	3.64%	0.97%
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

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

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

Wychavon residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 0.47% between the 2011 and 2021 census.

Year	VG	G	F	B	VB
2011	46.36%	35.61%	13.35%	3.71%	0.98%
2021	47.43%	35.01%	12.95%	3.64%	0.97%

VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

Source: Census 2011/2021 (Nomis/ONS)

How many residents own or rent their home in Besford and Wychavon

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Besford either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 82.17 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 17.83 of Besford residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.

Area	Owned	Rented
Eckington	82.17%	17.83%
Wychavon	70.06%	29.94%
West Midlands	62.8%	37.2%
England	61.31%	38.69%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

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

Besford compared to other wards in Wychavon

#	Ward	Owned	Rented
1	Bowbrook (Wychavon)	84.06%	15.94%
2	Droitwich South East	83.48%	16.52%
3	Bredon	82.47%	17.53%
4	Eckington	82.17%	17.83%
5	Inkberrow	81.47%	18.53%
6	Upton Snodsbury	81.28%	18.72%
7	Drakes Broughton	78.84%	21.16%
8	The Littletons	78.75%	21.25%
9	Elmley Castle and Somerville	78.52%	21.48%
10	Fladbury	78.46%	21.54%
11	Ombersley	78.11%	21.89%
12	Lovett and North Claines	76.03%	23.97%
13	Pinvin	75.98%	24.02%
14	Badsey	74.56%	25.44%
15	Hartlebury	74.08%	25.92%
16	Norton and Whittington	73.7%	26.3%
17	Harvington and Norton	72.86%	27.14%
18	Broadway and Wickhamford	72.23%	27.77%
19	Dodderhill	70.66%	29.34%
20	Bretforton and Offenham	70.09%	29.91%
21	Honeybourne and Pebworth	70.04%	29.96%
22	Evesham South	69.99%	30.01%
23	Droitwich South West	69.34%	30.66%
24	South Bredon Hill	68.12%	31.88%
25	Droitwich East	64.9%	35.1%
26	Little Hampton	64.71%	35.29%
27	Great Hampton	64.48%	35.52%
28	Pershore	64.29%	35.71%
29	Droitwich Central	56.75%	43.25%
30	Bengeworth	55.31%	44.69%
31	Droitwich West	49.29%	50.71%
32	Evesham North	48.58%	51.42%

Besford is ranked 4 out of 32 wards in Wychavon for the percentage of home owners.

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Besford Age Distribution Statistics

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

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

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Besford & Wychavon 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 Besford in the Wychavon local area district.

Besford has a lower rate of immigrants than Wychavon, the West Midlands region and England as a whole.

Area	Born in UK	Born outside UK
Eckington	94.9%	5.1%
Wychavon	91.85%	8.15%
West Midlands	84.84%	15.17%
England	82.65%	17.35%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Besford compared to other wards in Wychavon

#	Ward	Born in UK	Born outside UK
1	Bengeworth	76.81%	23.19%
2	Evesham North	78.05%	21.95%
3	Little Hampton	82.21%	17.79%
4	Evesham South	85.74%	14.26%
5	Great Hampton	89.6%	10.4%
6	Droitwich West	90.88%	9.12%
7	Bretforton and Offenham	92.07%	7.93%
8	Broadway and Wickhamford	92.88%	7.12%
9	Droitwich East	93.48%	6.52%
10	Badsey	93.5%	6.5%
11	Norton and Whittington	93.64%	6.36%
12	The Littletons	93.8%	6.2%
13	Droitwich Central	93.91%	6.09%
14	Pinvin	94.24%	5.76%
15	Droitwich South West	94.38%	5.62%
16	Honeybourne and Pebworth	94.5%	5.5%
17	Lovett and North Claines	94.57%	5.43%
18	Pershore	94.66%	5.34%
19	Fladbury	94.73%	5.27%
20	Eckington	94.9%	5.1%
21	Dodderhill	95.11%	4.89%
22	South Bredon Hill	95.15%	4.85%
23	Hartlebury	95.33%	4.67%
24	Harvington and Norton	95.49%	4.51%
25	Drakes Broughton	95.52%	4.48%
26	Droitwich South East	95.59%	4.41%
27	Inkberrow	95.86%	4.14%
28	Bredon	96.27%	3.73%
29	Bowbrook	96.38%	3.62%
30	Elmley Castle and Somerville	96.7%	3.3%
31	Ombersley	96.8%	3.2%
32	Upton Snodsbury	96.82%	3.18%

';Besford is ranked 20 out of 32 wards in Wychavon for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

What is the population of Besford and Wychavon?

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

Ward	Population
Badsey	3458
Bengeworth	8144
Bowbrook	2861
Bredon	2645
Bretforton and Offenham	3010
Broadway and Wickhamford	4885
Dodderhill	2809
Drakes Broughton	2711
Droitwich Central	2621
Droitwich East	5446
Droitwich South East	6240
Droitwich South West	4994
Droitwich West	5217
Eckington	2679
Elmley Castle and Somerville	2524
Evesham North	5419
Evesham South	5429
Fladbury	2805
Great Hampton	3677
Hartlebury	3214
Harvington and Norton	2788
Honeybourne and Pebworth	2844
Inkberrow	5823
Little Hampton	5899
Lovett and North Claines	6924
Norton and Whittington	3830
Ombersley	2459
Pershore	8206
Pinvin	3168
South Bredon Hill	2427
The Littletons	3223
Upton Snodsbury	2705
Wychavon Total	131084

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

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

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