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Research and statistics FAQ


How many businesses occupy the City of London? | How many workers are employed in the City of London? | What is the gender breakdown of employees in the City of London? | What is the City’s contribution to the UK Economy (GVA)? | Can I get information on the City workforce, such as age structure, social and economic grouping, ethnicity and travel-to-work data? | How many residents are there in the City of London? | Is there data on net job losses in the City? | Is there a breakdown of employees in the City by nationality? | How much do businesses give to charitable causes per year in the City of London? | To what extent are industries in the City fringes trading with firms in the City?

Download key facts about the City and the City Corporation that looks after it, including contacts here (78kb)

How many businesses occupy the City of London?

The City of London (all sectors) 15,520
Financial services in London 14,250
Financial services in Great Britain [AN1]64,044


Source: ONS annual business inquiry, December 2008
Note: These figures relate to establishments and not individual firms and therefore the figure for actual businesses may be significantly lower. 
              
You may also wish to visit the website www.nomisweb.co.uk. To access the Annual Business Inquiry (and former Annual Employment Survey or Census of Employment) data, you must first obtain authorisation from the Office for National Statistics. The authorisation is called a Notice and costs £125 + VAT.

 

How many workers are employed in the City of London?

The City of London 312,494
Canary Wharf 104,877
Financial services in London 333,162
Financial services in Great Britain 1,062,978


Source: ONS annual business inquiry, December 2008
Note: These figures exclude the self-employed and pre-date any job losses that may have occurred during the economic downturn.

For more detailed information, please see the City of London publication City Statshot - Employment Trends in the City (44kb).

You may also wish to visit the website www.nomisweb.co.uk.

 

What is the gender breakdown of employees in the City of London?

  Male Female
The City of London 178,582 133,249
Greater London 2,168,288 2,000,239
Great Britain 13,504,363 13,172,834


Source: ONS annual business inquiry, December 2008

For more detailed information, please see the City of London publication City Statshot - Employment by Gender (PDF 76kb).

You may also wish to visit the website www.nomisweb.co.uk.

 

What is the City’s contribution to the UK Economy (GVA)?

City 2.4%
Financial services in Great Britain 8.8%


Source: ONS and Oxford Economics

For more detailed information please see the City of London publication City Statshot - Financial Services and the UK Economy (88kb) and the Economic Outlook for London, April 2010 (226kb).

 

What is the contribution of financial services to tax revenues in the UK?

This is estimated at 12.1%.

Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Total Tax Contribution paper, December 2009

 

Can I get information on the City workforce, such as age structure, social and economic grouping, ethnicity and travel-to-work data?

The Census of Population undertaken every 10 years by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) is the key source of data. In particular, the ONS published its Origin-Destination statistics in CD form between 2003 and 2004 for the last census in 2001. This is available from the ONS free of charge at www.statistics.gov.uk.

 

How many residents are there in the City of London?

  City of London
(numbers)
London
(numbers)
Great Britain
(numbers)
All people 8,000 7,668,300 59,623,200
Males 4,400 3,802,700 29,283,000
Females 3,600 3,865,700 30,340,300


Source: ONS 2008 mid-year population estimates

 

Is there data on net job losses in the City?

Net job losses in wholesale financial services are estimated at both 35,000 for each of 2008 and 2009, making a total of 70,000. Although most of the wholesale financial services sector is based in London, there are also important financial centres in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. Many back office jobs are also located outside the City (and indeed London).

 

Is there a breakdown of employees in the City by nationality?

There is no official source of data available. However, the Census does produce ethnicity data on a workplace basis which is available from www.statistics.gov.uk.

 

How much do businesses give to charitable causes per year in the City of London?

The Financial and Professional Business Services sector give on average £505 million to community causes per year.

Source: The Impact of City Businesses in addressing Social Disadvantage (Oxford Economics) – City of London publication March 2008

 

To what extent are industries in the City fringes trading with firms in the City?

It is estimated that firms in the City of London procure £13.3 billion of goods and services per annum from suppliers, and It is estimated that 16% of the turnover of the average SME in the City fringes will come from sales to firms in the City of London. Meanwhile, 4 - 5% of the procurement needs of City of London firms by value are met by suppliers based in the City fringes.

Source: The City of London’s Supply Chain and its Relationship with the City Fringes (cebr) – City of London publication September 2008



The City is a vital asset to the British and European economies. Its markets are innovative, competitive and internationally focused. The best companies in the world do business here because this is the place to do business best.

  • $3.1tr foreign exchange turnover each day in London (36% global share, including non-traditional foreign exchange derivatives and products)
  • 17% of the global foreign equity market
  • 70% of all eurobond turnover traded in London
  • $450bn of worldwide premium insurance income in the UK
  • 112 million metal contracts per annum traded in London
  • 1.056 billion contracts a year traded on London’s international futures exchange Liffe
  • £3.7trn total funds under management in the UK
  • $2.658trn pension fund assets under management
  • £38bn trade surplus generated by the UK financial services sector
  • 43% global share in 'over the counter' derivatives market
  • 95% share of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
  • 75% of Fortune 500 companies have London offices
  • 249 foreign banks in London
  • 606 foreign companies listed on the London Stock Exchange
  • 18% of cross-border lending arranged in the UK, more than any other country
  • 20% share of global hedge fund assets in the UK
  • Leading western centre for Islamic finance, with 22 banks supplying Islamic financial services, five of which are fully Sharia compliant
  • 17% share in 2007 of global market in marine insurance, making the UK the world leader

Source: IFSL Reports

For more information please email the Economic Research team.

 

The City of London produces a number of quarterly periodicals:

City Economy Digest - Key macroeconomic indicators (both official and survey data), placing the financial and related business services sector in its context within the overall UK economy. It provides estimates of actual and forecast levels of economic activity in the City of London, aided by research from the consultancy Oxford Economics. Download copies of the City Economy Digest.

City Business Review - City Business Review complements City Economy Digest. It provides a broad overview of recent earnings announcements and developments by major financial and related business services firms present in London. Its primary focus is on banks, given their importance and regular, highly-detailed reporting of results. All major sub-sectors – insurance, legal services, accountancy, management consultancy, fund management, maritime services and financial market infrastructure – are covered, however, usually on an annual basis. Download copies of the City Business Review.

City Statshot – City Statshot provides a brief analysis of key topical issues affecting the City, including business and employment trends, based on a wide range of statistical sources. Download copies of the City Statshot.

If you would like to receive copies of our regular periodicals via email, please contact us at economic.research@cityoflondon.gov.uk.


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Last modified: 10 June 2010 | Author: Anna Lycett
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