East Staffordshire has a history of traditional industries focused around manufacturing and agricultural sectors. The areas economy is rapidly changing, through public and private sector investment progress is being made in diversifying the economy in a positive manner by growing employment in various sectors

Key Facts and Figures

• East Staffordshire covers 96,000 acres, with a population of 103,770 and 46,000 households.
• 64.2% of employees work in companies with less than 200 people.
• The Borough is essentially rural in character and includes many small villages. There are two main towns, Burton upon Trent and Uttoxeter. Burton has a population of 66,000 and 29,600 households. Uttoxeter, with a population of 12,000 and 5,200 households is the area’s second town.
• There are 58.800 people employed in the East Staffordshire (2004), a rise of 22% since 1998. This is a faster growth rate than that experienced across Great Britain (6.9%) and is significantly higher than the county (4.5%) and the West Midlands (2.3%).
• Companies located in the area include Argos, Coors, Holland & Barrett, JCB, Fox’s Biscuits and Pirelli.
• Burton recently named West Midlands 'Town of Enterprise'.
• East Staffordshire has 3,520 VAT registered businesses.
• Three local sectors have increased their stock of businesses by over 20% since 1998 - real estate (34.3%), banking and finance (50%) and also education and health (25%).
• On average East Staffordshire employees earn £398.15 per week, which equates to approximately £20,704 per annum.
• Approximately 58,800 people are employed in East Staffordshire.
• East Staffordshire has a local, mature workforce with 51.8% of residents in employment aged 30 – 49.
• East Staffordshire’s unemployment rate is lower than that of the East and West Midlands and the national average at 1.6%.
• Public administration, education and health is the second largest employment sector.
• Over one fifth (21%) of East Staffordshire employees are in manufacturing.
• 73.1% of East Staffordshire school leavers continued in full –time education in 2005.
• Within 45 minutes of Burton upon Trent there are over 1 million workers.