according to the 2001 uk census, the industry of employment of residents aged 16–74 was 18.8% property and business services, 14.8% retail and wholesale, 13.4% education, 13.1% health and social work, 9.6% manufacturing, 5.7% finance, 4.8% construction, 4.8% public administration, 4.4% hotels and restaurants, 4.2% transport and communications, 0.6% energy and water supply, 0.5% agriculture, 0.1% mining, and 5.2% other. compared with national figures, ilkley town had a relatively high percentage of residents working in education and health and social work. the town had a relatively low percentage working in transport and communication and manufacturing. the census recorded the economic activity of residents aged 16–74, 2.2% students were with jobs, 3.7% students without jobs, 5.8% looking after home or family, 2.7% permanently sick or disabled, and 1.8% economically inactive for other reasons. ilkley's 1.8% unemployment rate was low compared with the national rate of 3.3%. the city of bradford has a relatively low proportion of people who were self-employed compared to the whole of england, but ilkley's rate of 11.9% was well above both the district and national figures.