Socio-economic statistics for Higher Folds, Wigan

Socio-economic statistics for Higher Folds, Wigan

Is Higher Folds in Wigan 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 Higher Folds older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Higher Folds and Wigan? What is the claimant count in Higher Folds and how many residents are unemployed? This page should provide you with the answers.

Higher Folds 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 Wigan.
AreaUnemployedYearly Change
Wigan3.9%-0.4%
North West4.3%-0.3%
England3.8%-0.3%
UK3.7%-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 Higher Folds 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 Higher Folds.
Economic StatusProportion
In Employment56.52%
In Part-Time Work24.31%
Unemployed5.26%
75.69% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Higher Folds

What are the occupations of the residents of Higher Folds?

The largest employment sector in Higher Folds is Professional Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
SectorProportion
Professional Occupations14.9%
Associate Professional & Technical12.47%
Skilled Trades11.7%
Elementary Occupations11.62%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials10.42%
Administrative & Secretarial10.22%
Caring, leisure & Other Services9.93%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives9.62%

Higher Folds Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Leigh East.
Age BandProportion
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

Higher Folds Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Higher Folds 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 Higher Folds to the national average for England.
LevelLeigh EastEngland
No Qualifications21.7%18.08%
Level 110.9%9.69%
Level 214.95%13.32%
Apprenticeship6.47%5.32%
Level 317.89%16.92%
Level 425.4%33.92%

How many residents own or rent their home in Higher Folds and Wigan

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Higher Folds either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 61.28 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 38.72 of Higher Folds residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
AreaOwnedRented
Leigh East61.28%38.72%
Wigan66.37%33.63%
North West62.33%37.67%
England61.31%38.69%

Higher Folds has a lower level of home ownership than than the national average.

Higher Folds compared to other wards in Wigan

#WardOwnedRented
1Winstanley (Wigan)92.37%7.63%
2Shevington with Lower Ground84.21%15.79%
3Hindley Green81.77%18.23%
4Orrell81.69%18.31%
5Standish with Langtree80.84%19.16%
6Lowton East80.73%19.27%
7Astley Mosley Common78.93%21.07%
8Ashton (Wigan)78.78%21.22%
9Aspull New Springs Whelley74.24%25.76%
10Bryn (Wigan)68.4%31.6%
11Worsley Mesnes66.18%33.82%
12Tyldesley (Wigan)65.8%34.21%
13Leigh South64.5%35.5%
14Golborne and Lowton West64.34%35.66%
15Atherleigh63.62%36.38%
16Leigh East61.28%38.72%
17Wigan West61.18%38.82%
18Abram59.92%40.08%
19Hindley59.33%40.67%
20Wigan Central58.57%41.43%
21Atherton57.19%42.81%
22Leigh West53.35%46.65%
23Douglas50.64%49.36%
24Pemberton49.37%50.63%
25Ince42.37%57.63%
Higher Folds is ranked 16 out of 25 wards in Wigan for the percentage of home owners.

Higher Folds & Wigan 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 Higher Folds in the Wigan local area district.

AreaBorn in UKBorn outside UK
Leigh East90.43%9.57%
Wigan93.78%6.22%
North West88.33%11.67%
England82.65%17.35%

Higher Folds compared to other wards in Wigan

#WardBorn in UKBorn outside UK
1Ince87.87%12.13%
2Leigh West89.05%10.95%
3Wigan Central89.72%10.28%
4Douglas90.39%9.61%
5Leigh East90.43%9.57%
6Wigan West91.93%8.07%
7Atherleigh92.63%7.37%
8Pemberton92.71%7.29%
9Abram92.79%7.21%
10Atherton93.05%6.95%
11Tyldesley93.67%6.33%
12Astley Mosley Common94.02%5.98%
13Leigh South94.19%5.81%
14Worsley Mesnes95.04%4.96%
15Golborne and Lowton West95.42%4.58%
16Aspull New Springs Whelley95.71%4.29%
17Standish with Langtree95.72%4.28%
18Hindley96%4%
19Lowton East96.26%3.74%
20Hindley Green96.3%3.7%
21Ashton96.48%3.52%
22Bryn96.88%3.12%
23Shevington with Lower Ground97.03%2.97%
24Winstanley97.27%2.73%
25Orrell97.44%2.56%
';Higher Folds is ranked 5 out of 25 wards in Wigan for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Higher Folds Health Statistics

Leigh East 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.
AreaVGGFBVB
Leigh East46.23%33.82%13.95%4.66%1.34%
Wigan46.27%33.46%14.03%4.88%1.36%
North West47.73%32.71%13.36%4.77%1.43%
England48.49%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 Wigan changed since 2011?

Wigan residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 1.64% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
YearVGGFBVB
201145.39%32.7%14.72%5.7%1.49%
202146.27%33.46%14.03%4.88%1.36%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

What is the population of Higher Folds and Wigan?

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

WardPopulation
Abram15909
Ashton12018
Aspull New Springs Whelley13065
Astley Mosley Common11893
Atherleigh12411
Atherton15786
Bryn11694
Douglas13819
Golborne and Lowton West12050
Hindley13703
Hindley Green11348
Ince14547
Leigh East12811
Leigh South14388
Leigh West15758
Lowton East13338
Orrell12244
Pemberton14893
Shevington with Lower Ground11513
Standish with Langtree12832
Tyldesley14920
Wigan Central12317
Wigan West13457
Winstanley11776
Worsley Mesnes12222
Wigan Total330712



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