the West Midlands Modern (post-1974) County (Met.C) : NS Socio-economic Classification (4-way)

NS Socio-economic Classification (4-way)

Data cube chart.

Year Higher managerial, administrative & professional occupations Intermediate occupations Routine & manual occupations Never worked & long-term unemployed
1841 15,833 Show data context 112,913 Show data context 43,578 Show data context
1881 103,006 Show data context 510,906 Show data context 238,840 Show data context
1931 114,239 Show data context 563,665 Show data context 358,127 Show data context
1971 51,735 Show data context 47,107 Show data context 41,505 Show data context 15,766 Show data context
1981 53,968 Show data context 40,979 Show data context 38,727 Show data context 15,023 Show data context
1991 53,367 Show data context 26,810 Show data context 29,385 Show data context 1,802 Show data context
2001 385,140 Show data context 252,495 Show data context 568,414 Show data context 265,270 Show data context
2011 800,196 Show data context 379,945 Show data context 698,486 Show data context 406,512 Show data context
2021 584,236 Show data context 436,855 Show data context 738,401 Show data context 541,656 Show data context
Date Source
1841 - 2021 Great Britain Historical GIS Project

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nCube definition


Here we simplify the National Statistics Socio-economic Classfication into just four analytic categories, which we try to present over a very long period. Note that up to 1991 the census focused on levels of "skill", and on whether work was "manual", but since 2001 the focus has instead been on whether work was "routine", making comparisons difficult.


How to reference this page:

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, the West Midlands Modern (post-1974) County (Met.C) through time | Historical Statistics on Social Structure | NS Socio-economic Classification (4-way), A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10056962/cube/NS_SEC_4WAY

Date accessed: 04th June 2026