The 12 high class Birmingham neighbourhoods with most residents in the best jobs, according to the Census

New census figures previously revealed that one in six households in Birmingham are classed as among the most privileged in society.

The social grade is an overall score of households with a ‘reference person’ aged between 16 and 64 derived from 2021 census data. It calculates a grade based on household income, economic activity, qualifications, the type and tenure of the household, and many other socio-economic factors. There are four social grade classifications, AB, C1, C2 and DE.

• AB – is the highest social class and refers to higher and intermediate managerial, administrative and professional occupations
• DE – is the lowest and covers semi-skilled and unskilled manual occupations and the unemployed

The latest Office for National Statistics data shows 161,579 of 950,455 applicable households (17%) in Birmingham were ranked in the highest band – where the household reference person was in a higher or intermediate occupation. This was well below the average across England and Wales of 23.3%.

Analysing the data, we can also now unveil which wards in Birmingham have the highest proportion of residents working in the highest senior and management roles which would come into the AB social class ranking defined by the Census.

New data from the Office for National Statistics, also looks at the number of residents aged 16 or over in each Birmingham ward and the level of job they work in.

For example, the data looks at the numbers of people working in the highest category - higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations, as well as those working in lower categories, such as semi-routine occupations and long-term unemployed.

With this is mind, these are the top 12 areas of Birmingham with the most people in the highest social classes according to the latest Census: