Creating the London night-worker geodemographic classification

This paper aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the geography of night working in London (United Kingdom). Around a quarter of London’s workforce is employed in the evening and night-time economy, working between the hours of 6 pm and 6 am. Compared to daytime workers, there is limited public information on where these workers are located, how they travel, and what amenities they rely on during work hours. To address this gap, we combine official employment statistics with mobile phone footfall data to develop the London Night-Worker Classification. This new small-area geodemographic classification captures key characteristics of night-working patterns, offering a spatial perspective on night-time employment to support more informed decisions in transport, planning, and worker wellbeing.