Greater Manchester Adult Activity Levels November 2021-22

Greater Manchester Overview

Greater Manchester has recovered to baseline levels and showing further signs of recovery to pre-pandemic levels in both activity (60.8%) and inactivity (28.0%) levels.

In the last 12 months activity levels have significantly increased (+2.2%) and inactivity levels significantly decreased (-1.7%), slightly more than nationally (+1.7% active and -1.4% inactive), closing the gap (from 2.6% to 2.3%).

Most demographics have seen a decrease in inactivity in the last 12 months and recovery to baseline, except 16-24 years, South Asian ethnicities, student and other occupations (NS SEC 9) and lower socio-economic groups (NS SEC 6-8).

Whilst higher socio-economic groups (NS SEC 1-2), those with a long-term health condition or disability and aged 75+ years are the only groups to have recovered to pre-pandemic levels, the latter two are also the most likely to be inactive.

Inactivity

The inactive proportion has seen its biggest annual decrease (down 1.7% since November 2020-21) and is now at 28.0%. However, this remains higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Differences across demographics

Those with a long-term disability or health condition, aged 75+ years and from lower socio-economic groups (NS SEC 6-8) remain the most likely to be inactive.

However, prior to the pandemic inactivity was reducing across all demographics, except South Asian, Black, Mixed and White Other ethnic groups, students or other occupations (NS SEC 9) and 16-34 years.

Although during the pandemic all demographics saw a rise in inactivity, in particular South Asian ethnic groups and lower socio-economic groups (NS SEC 6-8) by nearly or over 10% respectively. Most have seen a decrease in the last 12 months and recovery to baseline levels, except student and other occupations (NS SEC 9), South Asian ethnic groups, lower socio-economic groups (NS SEC 6-8) and 16-34 years.

For 16-34 years, South Asian ethnic groups and students or other occupations (NS SEC 9), this is a continued gradual increase, mitigating the pandemic years. Whereas lower socio-economic groups (NS SEC 6-8) although decreasing before the pandemic, have not recovered as other demographic groups. Potentially leaving these groups behind.

• Within 16-34 years, it appears to be 16-25 years, females, those with a disability or long-term health condition, lower socio-economic groups and South Asian ethnicities driving the trend.
• Within South Asian ethnic groups, it appears to be 35-45 years, females, those looking after home/ family, those with a disability or long-term health condition and lower socio-economic groups driving the trend.
• Within lower socio-economic groups (NS SEC 6-8), it appears to be 16-24 years, males and South Asian ethnicities more so for long term sick or unemployed (NS SEC 8), and 55-64 years more so for semi-routine or occupations (NS SEC 6-7).
• Within students or other occupations (NS SEC 9) appears to be 35-54 years, those with a disability or long-term health condition and South Asian ethnicities.

Differences across the boroughs

There remain clear differences in inactivity levels across the boroughs of Greater Manchester, with three boroughs better than the national average (Bury, Stockport and Trafford).

The gap between the boroughs with the highest and lowest levels of inactivity now stands at 9.7%, similar to 9.5% in November 2020-21.

Most boroughs have seen inactivity fall in the last 12 months if not significantly (except Manchester and Stockport) with Trafford (+7.7% active and -4.0% fairly active) and Wigan (-5.5% inactive) being the only boroughs to see significant change since baseline.

Prior to the pandemic all but Oldham and Stockport were reducing in inactivity, along with Manchester, these are the only boroughs not to have recovered to baseline levels.

Only Manchester and Stockport have seen an increase in inactivity in the last 12 months, whereas Oldham and Wigan are the only boroughs to have already recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

If you have questions about this data or would like access to the raw data please email: [email protected]

All data is rounded to one decimal point.

Published April 2023.