Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership

Income and employment are key factors of population health. Most adults spend much of their time working, this means jobs and workplaces can have a big impact on health and wellbeing. Good work can protect working-age adults against physical and mental health problems and reduce the risk of premature mortality (ScotPho, 2023). 

‘Good work’ is defined as having a safe and secure job with good working hours and conditions, supportive management and opportunities for training and development (Public Health England, 2023). 

 

Working population

48,000 people - the economically active population in Midlothian (81.5% of the total working age population in October 2023 - September 2024 Office for National Statistics, 2023). (76.6% in Scotland).

2.4% of the working age population were unemployed (3.3% in Scotland).

10,700 people were classed as economically inactive, neither in employment nor unemployed, in October 2023 - September 2024 (Office for National Statistics, 2023).

40.4% were inactive due to long-term sickness, this figure has been relatively consistent over the past ten years.

25.6% were retired (from 17.6% in 2012/13).

 

Earnings

Workers in Midlothian (by place of residence) earn a similar amount to the Scottish median earnings per week. Midlothian full-time employed residents in 2024 earned on average £741.30 per week (Office for National Statistics, 2024). This compares to the Scottish equivalent of £740.00, (a gap of £1.30, previously £39.10 in 2020) and UK of £729.80. Female full-time workers in Midlothian (by place of residence) earned on averages £90.60 less per week than the overall Midlothian full time employee average figure in 2024 (Office for National Statistics, 2024). This same figure for women was:

• £57.70 less in 2022
• £112.90 less in 2020
• £57.00 less in 2019

 

Employment

The public sector is the biggest local employer

• Over 3,900 employees - Midlothian Council (Midlothian Profile, 2023/24)
• Over 700 employees - NHS Lothian (Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership) (Midlothian HSCP Workforce Plan, 2022-25)

The Edinburgh City region also supports a large number of jobs for commuters from Midlothian (Midlothian Profile, 2023/24)

• 46% of economically active residents in Midlothian work in professional and associate professional occupations (40.5% in Scotland).
• 15.1% of economically active residents in Midlothian work in caring, leisure and other service occupations (9.7% in Scotland). (October 2023 - September 2024 Office for National Statistics, 2024).

 

Dates are 12 months from October - September. Sample sizes for Sales & Customer Service Occupations and Process, Plant & Machine Operatives in Midlothian in the period Sep 2021 to October 2024 are too small for reliable estimate.

Data Source: Labour Market Profile - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics (nomisweb.co.uk) [Accessed  Feb 2025]