Economy, jobs and prices in Westfjords, Iceland: official figures
Tax registers counted 4,512 employed residents of the Westfjords in August 2026, 2.0% of all people in work in Iceland.
Is employment growing in Westfjords?
Employment among residents of the Westfjords rose by 2.4% in the year to August 2026 (Iceland: 0.1%), the fastest growth of 8 regions.
Source: Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Islands) · saved copyHow many immigrants work in Westfjords?
Immigrants held 28.6% of jobs filled by residents of the Westfjords in August 2026, 2nd highest of 8 regions (national share 23.9%).
Source: Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Islands) · saved copyWhat is the employment rate in Westfjords?
About 80 in every 100 residents of the Westfjords aged 16 to 74 were registered as employed in August 2026, 2nd highest of 8 regions.
Source: Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Islands) · saved copyWhat are average earnings in Westfjords?
Average income from work was ISK 6.93 million per taxpayer in the Westfjords in 2025, 3rd highest of 8 regions, while capital income averaged ISK 0.75 million.
Source: Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Islands) · saved copyMore figures
- Since August 2019 the number of employed residents of the Westfjords has increased by 10.7%, compared with 13.3% nationally. Source: Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Islands) · saved copy
How Westfjords compares with other regions
Change in employed residents, Aug 2025 to Aug 2026 (%) (2026-08)
Westfjords ranks 1 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Change in employed residents, Aug 2025 to Aug 2026 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westfjords | 2.4% |
| 2 | Southern Region | 1.1% |
| 3 | Northeastern Region | 0.4% |
| 4 | Southern Peninsula | 0.0% |
| 5 | Capital Region | -0.0% |
| 6 | Northwestern Region | -0.0% |
| 7 | Eastern Region | -0.3% |
Immigrants as a share of employed residents (%) (2026-08)
Westfjords ranks 2 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Immigrants as a share of employed residents (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Peninsula | 37.6% |
| 2 | Westfjords | 28.6% |
| 3 | Southern Region | 25.9% |
| 4 | Eastern Region | 25.7% |
| 5 | Capital Region | 23.4% |
| 6 | Western Region | 19.7% |
| 7 | Northeastern Region | 15.8% |
Employed residents per 100 people aged 16-74 (2026-08)
Westfjords ranks 2 of 8, highest first. Registered employed residents (all ages 16-74) in August 2026 divided by population aged 16-74 on 1 January 2026.
| Rank | Region | Employed residents per 100 people aged 16-74 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Region | 80.8 |
| 2 | Westfjords | 79.6 |
| 3 | Northwestern Region | 79.0 |
| 4 | Northeastern Region | 76.9 |
| 5 | Southern Region | 76.4 |
| 6 | Western Region | 75.3 |
| 7 | Capital Region | 75.2 |
Mean income from work per taxpayer (thousand ISK) (2025)
Westfjords ranks 3 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Mean income from work per taxpayer (thousand ISK) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Region | 7,459 |
| 2 | Capital Region | 7,425 |
| 3 | Westfjords | 6,928 |
| 4 | Southern Peninsula | 6,776 |
| 5 | Western Region | 6,749 |
| 6 | Northeastern Region | 6,591 |
| 7 | Southern Region | 6,431 |
More on Westfjords: overview · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Iceland
Sources
- Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Islands): Income by municipalities and sex 1990-2025, from individual tax returns, thousand ISK (table TEK01002; 2015-2025 saved), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 03d347ed3a53…)
- Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Islands): Register based employment of persons with legal residence in Iceland by month, sex, age, origin and region 2003-2026 (table VIN10012; August and December 2018-2026 saved), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f8f0f8986cec…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.