Data and Intelligence
The Office for National Statistics provides national data and includes the ONS Census 2021 interactive data which provides detailed characteristics of Hartlepool's population at a granular geographical level.
Business
Since 2019, Hartlepool has consistently had lower rates of business formation compared to the wider Tees Valley and North East regions, which themselves have much lower rates than the national average. Hartlepool has a lower density of businesses and experiences a net outward flow of commuters. Between 2021 and 2023, the number of business "deaths" exceeded the number of "births," resulting in a decline in the number of active enterprises.
The survival rates of businesses in Hartlepool vary from year to year. More businesses born in 2020 in Hartlepool survived their first, second, and third years compared to those in the wider region and England. However, fewer businesses born in 2021 and 2022 in Hartlepool survived subsequent years.
Businesses in Hartlepool tend to be smaller than those in the wider region and country. Only 9.4% of businesses in Hartlepool have a turnover of over £1 million in 2025, compared to 10.6%, 10.9%, and 11.1% for the Tees Valley, North East, and England, respectively. The profile of businesses by employee numbers is similar to England’s with 98% of Businesses having fewer than 50 employees.
Economic Output and Productivity
Adjusted for Inflation, Gross Value Added (GVA) in Hartlepool stood at over £1.5 Billion in 2023 representing the size of the economy in Hartlepool. Adjusted for inflation GVA fell between 2019 and 2021 and since 2021 has risen for 2 consecutive years returning to its 2019 level. In contrast, economic output in the wider North East and England has exceeded 2019 levels (adjusted for inflation) GVA per hour worked and filled job which are measures of productivity are consistently lower in Hartlepool than the wider North East which itself is consistently lower than the national figure. Growth in these measures between 2020 and 2023 was higher in the North East and England than in Hartlepool.
Industry
The largest industries in Hartlepool in terms of share of 2024 employment are Health (employing 19.4% of people), Manufacturing (12.9%), Retail (also 11.3%) and Education (9.7%). Manufacturing share of employment is 80% higher than then national share whilst Public Admin/Defence is 50% higher and Construction a30% higher. Retail and Health share is also specialist with a 40% larger shares of employment than nationally with Educations share 20% higher than nationally. Mining, Quarrying and utilities has a share of employment of 4.0% in Hartlepool which is 3.6 times the national share making it Hartlepool’s most specialist broad industry.
Hartlepool has a higher proportion of residents employed in Elementary Occupations (11%) and roles related to process, plant, and machine operation (11%) compared to England (9% and 6%). Managers, Directors, and Senior Officials constitute 6% of the workforce, compared to 12% nationally. Professional occupations make up 23% of employment in Hartlepool, compared to 27% in England, reflecting a workforce with fewer high-skilled jobs.
Gross Value Added by Industry
Manufacturing was the industry with the highest economic output, but this declined in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Meanwhile, output in Health and Social Care and Real Estate activities grew, surpassing Manufacturing in GVA levels. Construction also saw significant growth in economic output between 2020 and 2023.
Population
In 2024, Hartlepool had a population of 93,844. Of these, 33,444 were aged over 55, which is slightly higher than the national average. The town had 16,393 residents aged 25-39, which is slightly below the national rate. Hartlepool consistently shows lower employment and economic activity rates compared to the wider region and the national average. Consequently, economic inactivity rates are higher, with long-term sickness being the most common reason for residents not working or actively seeking employment.
There is a net outward flow of commuters from Hartlepool, and the town has a lower job density, with 0.6 jobs per resident aged 16-64 compared to 0.7 in the wider Tees Valley and North East, both of which are lower than the national rate of 0.9.
Wards such as Manor House, Headland & Harbour, De Bruce, and Burn Valley tend to have more terraced and smaller housing. These areas have higher concentrations of households without qualifications, lower employment levels, lower incomes, and poorer health outcomes. In contrast, wards like Hart and Rural West feature more detached housing, a higher population aged over 55, more qualifications, higher employment rates, and higher-skilled jobs. Consequently, incomes are generally higher, and health outcomes are more positive in these areas.
Qualifications and Skills
There has been a fall in the number of residents without qualifications according to the annual population survey though this is a sample survey subject to sampling error and the metrics changed from after the 2021 figure so accurate time series comparison in recent years is difficult. 2021 Census figures suggested 23.1% of people aged 16 and over in Hartlepool did not have any qualifications compared to 18% in England. Hartlepool consistently has a lower proportion of its population qualified to level 4 and above compared to the wider region and England.
Benefit Claimants
Hartlepool has a high number of residents claiming benefits with over a third (37.3%) of households on Universal Credit in August 2025 compared to 28.2% in North East and 25.1% in England. More than 7 in 10 Universal Credit Claimants in Hartlepool are not in employment which is one of the highest proportions in the country. Victoria is the ward with the highest number of UC claimants not working but searching for work (job seekers).
Workplace Health
According to the Labour Force Survey, the percentage of working days lost due to sickness absence in Hartlepool (2021-23) was 2.1 which is higher than England 1.2. The rate in Hartlepool fell between 2013/15 and 2017/19 but in recent years has been on the increase. Hartlepool has higher levels of depression and anxiety than nationally which can impact productivity and absenteeism whilst smoking prevalence and high rates of obesity contribute to poorer levels of general health and contribute to chronic illness and reduced work capacity.