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Real GDP rose 21% between 2014 and 2023, falling sharply in 2020 before recovering past its pre-2020 level by 2021. From 2020, regional GDP has grown by 6.4% a year versus the UK average of 4.5% a year
Employment in the region's Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Technology, and Creative Industries grew from 70,000 in 2015 to more than 95,000 in 2024. 10% of the region's jobs are in Digital and Technologies and 6% in the Creative Industries, significantly more than the employment share for these industries at the national level.
Employment rose from 77.4% in 2015 to a peak of 81.4% in mid-2022, then eased back to 79.6% by early 2026. 53% of residents in the West of England held a Level 4 qualification or above (a higher education qualification beyond A Levels), compared with 48% nationally. More than 110,000 students attend the region's four universities.
Economic inactivity peaked in 2017 at 20% and has dropped to around 17% in 2026. This is almost 4% lower than the national rate.
