This factsheet compares Wigan to the five most similar European cities in size and industrial structure. These are: Valladolid (Spain) Kaunas (Lithuania) Murcia (Spain) Thessaloniki (Greece) Mulhouse (France)

Comparing cities in this way helps us to understand more about how well UK cities are competing on an international scale because it groups cities with similar industrial structures, rather than on their resulting economic performance. The factsheet also compares the relative strengths and weaknesses of Wigan to its European counterparts on variables such as skills, employment and productivity.

City group characteristics

Wigan and the cities in its group are medium-sized with a relatively large private services sector, and fairly large public services sector.

Population

Industrial structure

Key

• Manufacturing, mining and utilities 2011
• Business services 2011
• Public services 2011
• Other private services 2011
• Other sectors 2011

Overall economic performance

Against its group, Wigan ranks well on employment, and relatively well on patents. However, it ranks lower in the group on other indicators.