Topics relating to the economy

The structure and size of Herefordshire's economy is heavily influenced by the county's relative rurality.  A higher than average number of jobs and businesses are in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors, whilst the service sector in under-represented.  Parts of the county remain relatively remote from the motorway and rail network and historically broadband connectivity has been an issue - both acting as a barrier to economic growth.

Herefordshire also has a lower than average proportion of the workforce possessing higher-level qualifications and average wages are lower than the national and regional average.  Rates of self-employment are higher than regionally and nationally.   

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per head of population - a measure of relative economic prosperity, is significantly lower than nationally and regionally and Gross Value Added (GVA) per hours worked, which is used to measure labour productivity, is amongst the lowest of comparable areas of Great Britain.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Herefordshire's economy shrank to its smallest size since 2013 and has yet to fully recover.

The cost-of-living crisis beginning early in 2022, has widened existing inequalities and increased financial insecurity.  A snapshot of the impact of the crisis and of the position of the wider economy as at May 2024 is available in the related documents area.